Zimbabwe v India

Final report, by John Ward
27 September 1998

Just as they feared, Zimbabwe found their total of 235 put too little pressure on the powerful Indian batting. Hard work and perspiration are no match for genius properly applied, and the talented tourist batsmen were just too good against bowling which lacked real firepower.

At least this time Zimbabwe dismissed Tendulkar off the first chance he offered. It was what is generally termed a fairy-tale debut for the 17-year-old Mluleki Nkala, widely known by his nickname of Psycho for his proven ability to think opponents out in the age-group crcket he has played in the past. Called on early as first-change bowler, the Falcon college schoolboy enjoyed much vocal support from the mainly white Bulawayo crowd. He put his first ball on the stumps. The world's greatest batsman cut hard at his second, only for Craig Wishart at backward point to dive to his left and hold a fine low catch. Progress after that was more difficult for the debutant, though, as he tended to overpitch in his first spell and proved expensive -- as did the other bowlers.

This time it was Saurav Ganguly who monopolised the Indian innings. Mohammad Azharuddin batted quietly for most of his time at the crease, content generally to place the ball for ones and twos. He hit Andrew Whittall for a big six over long off, but violence was rare. The only chance Ganguly gave was in the same over that Tendulkar was dismissed, when he started off for an optimistic single and Wishart's shy missed the stumps while he was still out of his ground. This was the only chance missed by the Zimbabwean fielders today -- two chances out of three were taken. But, as yesterday, the miss proved crucial.

The left-handed opener, like his captain, scored most of his runs in neatly placed ones and twos, but also placed the ball neatly through the covers for several boundaries. As these two settled in, the match gradually drifted away as Zimbabwe's perspiring bowlers were unable to stem the steady flow of runs. They needed a lucky break but, after missing Ganguly's run out, none came. With Paul Strang unable to bowl with his hip injury, Campbell turned to Wishart's medium-pace and his own off-spin, but the novelty failed to do the trick.

As yesterday, a big second-wicket stand won the match, but this time it was between two different players. It was not broken until victory was almost certain, as Wishart took the action again with a catch on the midwicket boundary to dismiss Azharuddin. Ajay Jadeja soon made his presence felt with a six over long off. Ganguly slowed down in the nineties, but eventually reached his century just before the completion of the match, with a finely timed boundary to deep square leg.

So India won the series, losing only four wickets in the process. Although Zimbabwe put up a much better fight this time, they were clearly outclassed. they have only honour to play for in the final match at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. Perhaps it would be good for the game if India were to bat first next time; it would certainly add interest.

Lunch-time report

Dicky Bird may have retired, but cricket still holds a strong attraction for the rain. The first rains of the season hit Bulawayo last night, and although the sky was largely clear by the scheduled starting time of 9.30, the covers had been inadequately arranged and an area of the bowler's run-up was soaked at one end. An hour was wasted before conditions were deemed fit, and the match reduced to 45 overs a side.

Again India won the toss and again put Zimbabwe in to bat. Campbell was on the attack from the start, scoring 14 runs off the first ten balls despite a slow outfield. But Zimbabwe were not destined to enjoy a good start, as they inflicted on themselves yet another foolish run-out. Trevor Madondo, yet to score, was rapped on the knuckles by a short ball, which ran out a few metres on the off side, and Campbell called him for a quick single. With Madondo concentrating on his pain, this was perhaps not the most appropriate time to call for a short run, and Campbell was down at the striker's end before Madondo responded, much too late.

Campbell did not let this affect him, and when Harbinder Singh came on he welcomed him with a massive six over the sightscreen second ball. Murray Goodwin, as he often does, played himself in slowly and struggled for a while, but gradually found his touch. Campbell reached 50 for the 14th time in one-day internationals, and passed the 54 he needed to become Zimbabwe's third player, after the Flower brothers, to reach 2000 one-day runs. But on 63 he tried to hit the wrong ball for six and merely skyed a catch to long off, right back on the ropes. Their stand of 125 was Zimbabwe's best for the second wicket in one-day cricket against Test-playing opposition, second only to the 150 by Grant Flower and Gavin Rennie against Kenya last year.

Goodwin did not last much longer, caught and bowled as he skyed an attempted pull. Thereafter Zimbabwe lost wickets fairly regularly. Andy Flower and Craig Wishart had to play themselves in before they attempted to open up, but Wishart played quite well before he pulled low and hard, only to be very well caught low down at deep midwicket. Heath Streak did not last long before he slashed rather half-heartedly outside off stump to be caught by the keeper.

Zimbabwe's main hopes of a really high score lay with Craig Evans, but while he scored usefully he was not destined to tear the bowling apart today. A yorker from Srinath found the bottom edge of his bat before crashing into his stumps. Paul Strang improvised in his usual way, bujt seemed to injure himself while slogging a four, and it remains to be seen how serious the strain is. He was helped by Andrew Whittall, and seventeen-year-old Mluleki Nkala, on his debut, was not required at the crease.

Zimbabwe did better than yesterday with the bat, but will ned a similar improvement in bowling and catching if they are to restrain a powerful Indian batting line-up. There are few totals which can be considered safe against this opposition, and Zimbabwe will probably have to take all ten wickets to win.