Skip to main content

Zaheer and Harbajan bring India back into the game

South Africa seemed to be sailing pretty, as they were well placed at 218 for one, after Graeme Smith had won the toss and elected to bat. With Hashim Amla (114) and debutant Alviro Petersen (100) exhibiting a sparkling batting display, South Africa seemed to be cruising along to reach a comfortable total to scuttle an Indian victory, and with it to re-conquer the Number 1 spot concerned with the ICC Test rankings.

But Zaheer Khan and Harbajan Singh had different ideas altogether, as Zaheer sent both the centurions back to the pavilion with Harbajan scalping three victims. India, with the influence of the electrified atmosphere at the Eden Gardens that worked to is advantage reduced South Africa to 266 for 9, when stumps were drawn for the day.

The pitch offering enough bounce produced a marked influence on Zaheer Khan, as he sent the off-stump of the South African captain, cart-wheeling, but, both Ishant and Zaheer failed to be consistent to produce a significant impact during the earlier stages of the South African innings.

Petersen, the debutant, with the right mix of sublime stroke-play and classical defence scripted a wonderful century, as Amla and Petersen, who made his entry into the XI after Mark Boucher hadn’t recovered from the back strain, were on the run hunt with some explosive ball-hitting display. Petersen was brilliant with his wrist play, as the balls directed at the leg and middle, were played with panache to positions anywhere between the fine-leg and that of the deep mid-wicket. Amla, carrying on with the same confidence, produced some enlightening off-side drives, but enjoyed a reprieve, when VVS Lakshman, the safest of catchers, floored a catch at slips as when Amla had edged Harbajan.

Ishant Sharma with some lively bowling punctuated by the hot pitch deliveries seemed to have injected the confidence back into the Indians, as India after tea tasted success as when Zaheer removed both the centurions. Harbajan, foxing Kallis into a mistimed sweep was quick enough to remove Ashwell Prince and J.P. Duminy, with Duminy crediting him with the 350th test wicket.

The last South African pair were quiet happy when the offer for light by the umpires were taken with delight. The second day holds the key to the result of this test match as it could swing either way. It now takes a run-hunting spree on the part of the Indians to bat South Africa out of victory and to hold on to the Number 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ash, Batters Despised Your ‘Mate’ Call

Check, mate was a bugle call from that Grand Master. The batters turned pawns, and he the captor. My Tribe. And when someone from your tribe shatters the illusion of off-spinners being not intelligent and sharp, you owe him, or certainly I owe him an ode to an off-spinner, our tribe. My tribe has done the cricket world proud, time and again. Ash, Ash Wednesday, it was. Remarkably, a reflection perhaps of how off spinners have defied the notion of them being orchestrators of damp squibs. Or of repentance of my tribe as not to have set the score straight with their brains deceiving the brawn with flight. Your clarion call may have come out of the blue, denied you the solemn farewell, and may have invited thunderous denunciations. So, what? You will find succor to know that your tribe celebrates you – one of the hallowed sons of the tribe. Your display of cognitive superiority, mind-game thrillers, and the stamp of off-spinning authority on the field puts you there among the pantheons. Th...
3 comments
Read more

Playing a Straight Bat - Traditional Batting c Modern Batting b T-20 Live?

  There has always been a riveting talk of traditional batting being blighted by Modern batting. Some whisper the emphatic No, while many bellow the affirmative Yes, or perceptually, it could go the other way. The ongoing craftsmanship vs showmanship game seems to stutter into a draw. But that showmanship of T20 has ignited different avatars of modern batting. And there is also the obvious swap of modern batting for traditional batting in the longer formats of the game. As an anodyne, the mind connects Viv to T-20 cricket live. You can hold Viv Richards as the archetype of T-20 batting. But that’s the story of a craftsman come crowd-pleaser soaked in traditional batting delight. Viv Richards was ace high on traditional bating display. Talking of the infectious modern batting, the flip the script moment on the cricket field awaits. White flanneled colts on the cricket field are a pleasing sight. The roving eyes detect the Cardusian field setup - two slips, a gully, a point, a co...
1 comment
Read more

High and Handsome, An Immortal Sixer-shooter did that in style

Baird would have found this a most gratifying moment. The very toy that he had built was telecasting an absolute cracker of a contest between bat and ball. The one-day match between India and England was cresting to a sensational finish, keeping the audience on the edge of the seats.  Being a Scottish man himself, Baird would have liked England to be the victor than the vanquished in a match that held promises of a close finish. It was a run riot. There was sumptuous meal for the batsmen from this batsman’s paradise. It proved right with England posting their highest ever score in India. The seesaw battle for win saw the game swinging in England’s favor, though a distant Indian win was spotted in the horizon. The last lap of the match had begun and it was a solitary run that separated India from victory. Patrolling the crease was a sly fox in Ashwin ready to lay its trap, this time with the bat. Standing like a gladiator with the bat resting on his shoulder and eyes betra...
1 comment
Read more