Anil Kumble claims five

Navjot Singh Sidhu fell leg before to seamer Bryan Strang’s first ball for 19. Rahul Dravid followed suit after making 25 with the help of four boundaries. He missed the line of a Mark Vermulen delivery and was castled.

Ajay Jadeja then played a captain’s knock of 57 and was unbeaten at stumps along with Robin Singh (34).

Jadeja was in a belligerent mood and singled out first medium-pacer Angus McKay, whom he hit for two fours either side of the wicket and then lofted left-arm spinner Raymond Price for a straight six.

Jadeja’s 50 came off 74 balls with eight fours and a six.

Robin Singh also played a rapid-fire knock, scoring 34 off only40 balls with the help of five fours and a six.

Earlier, the Zimbabwe side, who were 84 for three at one stage, collapsed dramatically after lunch, succumbing to the guiles of spinners Kumble, Harbhajan Singh (2-38) and Rahul Sanghvi (2-16).

The departure of Vermulen (46) just before lunch break was a big blow for the hosts. Vermulen, who has captained the Zimbabwe under-19 side, batted for 139 minutes facing 111 balls and hit six fours but his exit triggered a slide.

With Javagal Srinath, coming in for Saurav Ganguly who was rested in a late decision, going wicketless after six overs of searing pace, it was left to his statemate Kumble to make the breakthrough.

The Indian leg-spinner trapped D Marillier (8) before D Viljeon (12) followed suit well caught by Harbhajan at mid-off off Debashish Mohanty.

Vermulen and T Modondo then took the score to 84 before Harbhajan had Modondo caught by Mohanty for 14.

Then Kumble struck a double blow claiming Neil Johnson (21) and T Penny (8).

Left-arm spinnerRahul Sanghvi raised visions of a hat-trick when he packed off McKay (1) and Price (0) off successive balls in the 65th over. But number ten Bryan Strang safely negotiated the next ball.

However, Kumble hastened the end capturing the wickets of Strang (15), and Everton Matambanadzo (4).