India suffer an early setback

HARARE, Oct 7: Anil Kumble kept his tryst with 200 wickets in Tests as Zimbabwe were hustled out for 221 on the opening day of the one-of...

HARARE, Oct 7: Anil Kumble kept his tryst with 200 wickets in Tests as Zimbabwe were hustled out for 221 on the opening day of the one-off Test against India at the Harare Sports Club Ground here today.

The tall Karnataka leg-spinner, playing his 47th Test, picked up three Zimbabwe wickets for 42 runs to become only the fourth Indian to reach the landmark of 200 Test wickets.

Javagal Srinath and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh picked up three and two wickets each, respectively, as Zimbabwe wasted a good start of 120 for one after being asked to bat first by the Indian skipper Mohd Azharuddin.

In the remaining seven overs, India made six for the loss of Nayan Mongia8217;s wicket, the Indian wicketkeeper going back on his heels to stab down a delivery from Henry Olonga and found, to his dismay, the ball rolling back on to his stumps.

Nightwatchman Kumble 3 and Navjot Singh Sidhu 1 saw off the day without any further loss.

For Zimbabwe, there was no hint of such a collapse in the first half when it hadonly one setback for 120 runs on board. The wicket had no great life in it but whatever it had, it did not seem to inspire Indians to a commanding performance.

Srinath, in particular, bowled too short and wide and to compound his troubles, he overstepped often. Ajit Agarkar, to start with, was busy finding his rhythm and looked subdued in his first spell. These two mostly shared the bowling burden but whatever overs Harbhajan managed, he looked the most impressive.

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India drew first blood in the form of Craig Wishart8217;s wicket through Saurav Ganguly. Wishart, the hero of the home team8217;s win in the third one-dayer at this very ground last week, tried to drive Ganguly on the up, away from his body, and lobbed a gentle catch to Harbhajan at gully.

His stay of 71 minutes and 55 balls for 21 runs included one four.

Then followed the brightest, if slow, stand for the second wicket between Gavin Rennie and Murray Goodwin. There could be no two more different batting styles than that of Rennie and Goodwin, withthe former intent on blocking everything hurled at him and the latter attacking at the slightest opportunity.

It took a rather fortuitous decision from umpire Rudi Koertzen for the Indians to break through in the form of Goodwin8217;s wicket. After the number three bat had shouldered arm to an incoming delivery from Srinath, it rapped his pads and met the umpire8217;s approval.

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Goodwin made 42 from a 94-minute, 73-ball stay that included five fours. He easily was the best home batsman on view and his departure emphasised this in no uncertain measure.

Srinath struck off the very next delivery when he had Zimbabwean captain Alistair Campbell flicking firmly but uppishly to backward short leg where Rahul Dravid took a blinder.

When Ajit Agarkar took his maiden wicket in the form of the obdurate Rennie, Zimbabwe were 122 for four, having lost three wickets while advancing their total by just two runs.

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe: Gavin Rennie c Mohanty b Agarkar 47, Craig Wishart c Harbhajan b Ganguly 21,Murray Goodwin lbw Srinath 42, Alistair Campbell c Dravid b Srinath 0, A Flower c Robin Singh b Srinath 30, N Johnson c Robin b Kumble 4, Craig Evans c Mongia b Harbhajan 11, Heath Streak c Robin b Harbhajan 8, H Olonga lbw Kumble 5, A Huckle not out 28, M Mbangwa st Mongia b Kumble 2; Extras lb1, nb20, w2: 23. Total all out, 80.4 overs 221

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Fall of wicket: 1-42, 2-120, 3-120, 4-122, 5-140, 6-163, 7-180, 8-181, 9-214.

Bowling: Srinath 21-3-59-3, Agarkar 16-3-40-1, Ganguly 5-1-21-1, Robin 6-2-16-0, Harbhajan 15-2-42-2, Kumble 17.4-3-42-3

India: Nayan Mongia b Olonga 1, Navjot Sidhu batting 1, Anil Kumble batting 3; Extras w1: 1. Total for one wkt, 7 overs: 6

Fall of wicket: 1-2.

Bowling: Streak 3-1-3-0, Olonga 3-1-3-1, Johnson 1-1-0-0.