India coast to a series-levelling win Rahul Dravid might have failed to do a Marillier off the last ball of the Indian innings, but it was the home team who celebrated at the end of the second one-dayer against Zimbabwe. After opting to bat, they piled on 319 for five in their 50 overs, before dismissing the visitors for 255 in 43.3 overs to seal a series-levelling 64-run win. In the morning, Sourav Ganguly (84), Rahul Dravid (66*), VVS Laxman (52) and Dinesh Mongia (45) got stuck into the Zimbabwean bowling as India compiled their highest total in 39 one-dayers against the visitors. Stuart Carlisle’s men were visibly rattled - they conceded a record 25 wides and also failed to complete their overs in the allotted time. Penalised one over for slow over-rate, the Zimbabwe reply received a shot in the arm through a 134-run second wicket partnership between Travis Friend (63) and Alistair Campbell (62). But once Harbhajan Singh snaffled the duo, the visitors' challenge petered out. For India, Harbhajan claimed 3-40, while another home-town boy, Mongia, who was bowling for the first time in his international career, claimed 3-31.

Ganguly: It was a team effort Sourav Ganguly lived out the dream of every captain at Mohali while leading his side to a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe in the second one-dayer. His knock of 86 off 83 balls, which provided his team with the initial momentum, also saw him walk away with the Man of the Match award later in the night. Speaking about his innings at the post-match press-conference, the Indian skipper said, “The ball was coming on nicely and after a few overs I knew it was full of runs. I decided to cut down on risk and with Dinesh Mongia also batting well at the other end, I wanted to play a long innings. I am happy.” The Indian skipper also shared his observations on the improvements his side had made. “We lost at Faridabad because of a freak innings and it doesn’t happen every day. Also, I thought we ended up 30 runs short of what we should have scored. Today, we dominated throughout, got the runs we needed on a batting track. It was a team effort.” Indian coach John Wright, for his part, was also pleased with the efforts of his lads. “I thought Ajay Ratra’s keeping was very good, he looks sharp and fit. (Dinesh) Mongia and (Mohammad) Kaif have taken our fielding standards to new heights. They are good cricketers. I mean, Kaif sacrificed his wicket going for quick runs. Mongia too went over the top for runs thought he could have just played it around for his own runs. It’s a good sign.”

Mongia - At home at Mohali Dinesh Mongia was a very happy man at the end of Mohali one-dayer. As someone whose home is situated just five kms away from the hallowed ground, Mongia desperately wanted to shine in his first international match at ‘home’. Sunday was to prove his day. After surviving the closest of shouts for lbw off the very first ball of the match, Mongia flourished, making an impressive 45 off 52 balls before being dismissed. He was to find himself in the limelight again during the Zimbabwe innings. Bowling his gentle brand of left-arm spin for the first time in international cricket, Mongia claimed 3-31, which statistically made him the most successful Indian bowler in the match. The pride in the eyes of his parents, who watched the match from the VIP stand, was unmistakable.

Don't agree with our guest columnists? Write in articles with your own views to "The Writer in You." Click Here Amazing facts, amazing stats. "Did you know" invites you to broaden your cricketing knowledge and bamboozle your friends. Click Here Pithy remarks and quotable quotes, straight from the horse's mouth, with "Wordsworth." Click Here