Indian tail script a different tale

Sharjah, October 27 : India entered the final of the Sharjah tri-angular series before overcoming early hiccups against Zimbabwe at the Sh...

Sharjah, October 27 : India entered the final of the Sharjah tri-angular series before overcoming early hiccups against Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. In the end, Sunil Joshi-led the much-criticised Indian tale saw Ganguly & company beating the Africans by three wickets with an over and three balls to spare. Replying to Zimbabwe’s modest total of 218-9 in 50 overs, India had a disastrous start when Sachin Tendulkar (4) fell to Friend. Next to follow was S Sriram (0), who could not resist the temptation of hooking a rising delivery only to find Mbangwa at the fine leg boundary. After that the two southpaws Saurav Ganguly (66, 98b, 4×4, 1×6) and Vinod Kambli (60, 75b, 4×4, 1×6) stemmed the rot with a third-wicket partnership of 106 runs. With things going smoothly, suddenly Ganguly and Kambli went for big shots and paid the price. Zimbabwe saw a glimmer of hope when Yuvraj Singh, fresh from his Nairobi success and Robin Singh also went back cheaply. But wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya (20, 34 b,1×4) and Sunil Joshi had different ideas.

The last 50 runs were needed off 56 balls and when Dahiya fell at 200, India needed 19 runs off 23 balls. His 51-ball seventh wicket stand with Joshi produced a vital 42 runs. Joshi remained unbeaten on 25 (30b, 2×4) and Agarkar on 16 (11b,1×4).

Earlier, Indian bowlers, led by Zaheer Khan, put up a good show to restrict Zimbabwe to 218-9 in their 50 overs despite a fighting unbeaten century by opener Alistair Campbell.

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Campbell, who scored an unbeaten 105, waged a lonely battle, after Saurav Ganguly won the toss and put Zimbabwe in to bat, as none of his teammates stayed long enough at the crease to consolidate and put up a big score.Zaheer Khan justified the trust his captain reposed in him with four wickets and bowled brilliantly as Zimbabwe could add only 46 runs in the last 10 overs.

Venkatesh Prasad gave him good company claiming two for 38 from his 10 overs.Zaheer’s career best figures saw him take three wickets his last four overs as he once again displayed tremendous fire during the slog overs. He bowled captain Heath Streak and Travis Friend off beautiful yorkers and dismissed Bryan Strang by his sheer pace to end with figures of 10-0-42-4.

Zimbabwe had a sedate start to their innings with Campbell and Grant Flower playing cautiously before Flower was caught by Robin Singh off Prasad for 10.Paul Strang, promoted up the order as a pinch hitter, made 17 off 22 balls.

Zimbabwe: 218-9 in 50 overs India: S Tendulkar c P Strang b T Friend 4, S Ganguly c D Marillier b T Friend 66, S Sriram c P Mbangwa b T Friend 0, V Kambli c H Streak b G Flower 60, Y Singh c P Strang b P Mbangwa 4, R Singh run out 7, V Dahiya c A Flower b H Streak 20, S Joshi (not out) 25, A Agarkar (not out) 16,

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Extras: (b1, w9, nb1 ,lb6) 17; Total: (for 7 wickets in 48.3 overs) 219

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-124, 4-133, 5-153, 6-158, 7-200

Bowling: Friend 10-0-39-3, Brian Strang 10-0-36-0, Streak 8-0-38-1, Mbangwa 7-0-29-1, Paul Strang 3-0-20-0, Viljoen 7.3-0-40-0, Grant Flower 3-1-8-0Man-of-the-Match: Alistair Campbell