da pinnacle： In a thrilling match of constant fluctuation, Zimbabwe finally wonthrough over India by four wickets in the second Test at Harare onMonday
John Ward18-Jun-2001In a thrilling match of constant fluctuation, Zimbabwe finally wonthrough over India by four wickets in the second Test at Harare onMonday. Their heroes on the final day were Heath Streak and AndyBlignaut with the ball and then, when the Zimbabwe challenge wasfaltering, Stuart Carlisle stood firm and saw his team home to theirsixth victory in 52 Tests, and their fourth at the Harare Sports Club.Against expectations, Zimbabwe levelled the two-match series withIndia, who are left still waiting their first overseas series winsince 1986.It turned out that the loss of Rahul Dravid in the final over of thethird day, reducing India to 197 for four, was the turning point ofthe innings – and the match – as in the first half-hour of the morningZimbabwe ripped open the Indian middle order, seizing four wickets for10 runs.Saurav Ganguly’s poor run on form continued. He had still not scoredwhen Andy Blignaut made a ball straighten on him and trapped him lbw,playing back instead of forward. The next blow was the loss of ShivSunder Das (70), who unwisely shouldered arms to Heath Streak and wasalso dismissed lbw, television upholding both decisions as good.India, 202 for six, now relied on debutant Hemang Badani and theirlower order.With no further addition, Ajit Agarkar drove loosely at a ball fromStreak swinging away, to be caught at the wicket, and next ballHarbhajan Singh slashed at a similar delivery and only just edged itover the slips for four. Harbhajan continued to live dangerously andtwo balls later he skied a catch just clear of cover, and down at theother end a leading edge off Blignaut was caught at short cover by thediving Dion Ebrahim in an effort that drew comparisons with JontyRhodes. India were sensationally reeling at 207 for eight.Badani and Javagal Srinath dug in for 35 minutes until Streak returnedfor his second spell after drinks, and immediately had Srinath (3)caught at the wicket. Ashish Nehra (0) hung on manfully for a further24 minutes before losing his off stump to Blignaut, but during thattime Badani (16 not out) was able to add only one scoring shot, a pullfor six over square leg. Blignaut finished with five wickets for 74and Streak four for 46.India were all out for 234, leaving Zimbabwe 157 to win. Zimbabwe hadscored 162 for three to beat Pakistan at Peshawar in 1998/99, but thiswas their only previous instance of successfully chasing a targetagainst a senior Test team. It was going to be a stern test ofconfidence and temperament for the Zimbabwean players, most of whomwere either untested or found wanting in such situations. The memoryof their failure to reach 99 to beat West Indies just over a year agowould have been fresh in their memories, although under more adverseconditions.Ganguly began with an attacking field. But Guy Whittall (8) and DionEbrahim (6) responded positively, leaving Zimbabwe 17 without loss atlunch.India broke through soon after lunch with the wicket or Whittall (10),caught off bat and pad off Srinath. This inspired the bowler togreater efforts as he worked up a real pace, but Harbhajan took thenext wicket, Ebrahim (20), also caught off bat and pad. At 45 for two,the Zimbabwe innings was at the crossroads.Alistair Campbell and Stuart Carlisle put together a brief partnershipbefore the former, once again failing to put together a score inkeeping with his ability, fell lbw to Nehra for 13. Grant Flower camein ahead of Andy, who was nursing a thumb injury, but there were nowsigns that Zimbabwe were beginning to clam up under the pressure.Harbhajan bowled his 11 overs before tea for just eight runs.At the interval Zimbabwe were 86 for three, 71 short of victory. GrantFlower (3) fell in the second over afterwards, caught at second slipoff Agarkar to put Zimbabwe’s backs to the wall at 89 for four.Carlisle gradually began to open up and play his strokes positively,and the tension began to relax as he ran to his fifty. The tensionrose again as Streak (8) drove loosely at Agarkar to be caught at thewicket, making the score 119 for five.Blignaut (16) played a few aggressive strokes, but tried it once toooften against Nehra and was bowled, middle stump, at 144 for six. Incame the injured Andy Flower, and to him fell the honour of scoringthe winning runs, a sweetly-timed cover drive for four. Carlislefinished unbeaten with 62 while Flower was eight not out.At the prize distribution ceremony, a jubilant Streak dedicated thevictory to Trevor Madondo. Shiv Sunder Das was adjudged man of theseries and Andy Blignaut was given the man of the match award.