Sidhu, Dravid excel

NAGPUR, NOV 26: The fickle weather might not have figured in Sachin Tendulkar's game-plan when he decided to bat first on the Vidarbha Cric...

NAGPUR, NOV 26: The fickle weather might not have figured in Sachin Tendulkar8217;s game-plan when he decided to bat first on the Vidarbha Cricket Association track after winning the toss. But Navjot Singh Sidhu and Rahul Dravid infused enough life in the 41 overs possible on the rain-marred opening day of the second Test as India rolled to 133 for one at close. The rollicking 118-run unbroken alliance in 37.5 overs enlivened the day8217;s proceedings after a cloud burst earlier had thrown a dampener.

The defensive tag that the Indians had pinned on themselves at Mohali was confined to the archives as Sidhu and Dravid dared the Sri Lankan bowlers with their attractive strokeplay after the early departure of Nayan Mongia 11.

The 34-year-old Sardar from Patiala led the run charge with flowing drives and fierce pulls as the left-arm spinner Jayantha Silva and off-spinner Mutthiah Muralitharan took a battering. Besides, he even employed the sweep shot with telling effect to add variety. If his innings in the first Test was full of patience, the knock today exhibited his relish for the spinners. The huge over boundary off Muralitharan underlining his taste.

Sidhu8217;s recent form and past record at the venue 8212; 106 amp; 76 against the West Indies8217; three years ago 8212; are all positive indicators of his tenth three-figure mark.

The 25-year-old Dravid too flourished in Sidhu8217;s company. The straight drives off Arjuna Ranatunga and Jayantha Silva bore the stamp of this talented youngster.

Such was the dominance of the duo that the run meter flickered around the six-plus mark at one stage to the delight of the 10,000-odd crowd. The run flow subsided only when left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya was introduced by Ranatunga in the 35th over. By then, the batsmen had probably decide to down the shutters for the day.

Medium-pacer Ravindra Pushpakumara, returning for his second spell, hastened the close of play as the batsmen8217;s appeal for bad light was upheld by the umpires with 13 overs still remaining to complete the minimum quota of 54 for the day.

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The question uppermost in everbody8217;s minds is: whether the weather will hold for the next four days to force a result? Though the Met department has predicted a light drizzle for the night, the bright sun shine that followed the heavy drizzle this afternoon provides a glimmer of hope.

The Sri Lankans earlier came up with a bold decision of leaving out off-spinner Kumara Dharmasena and opting for Jayantha Silva. Notwithstanding Dharmasena8217;s added abilities with the bat which he showed at Mohali, the Lankan line of thought could have been influenced by the inability of the Indian batsmen, save Saurav Ganguly, to play the sweep shot. In that case, Sidhu has managed to upset their calculations to some extent.

The Indian think-tank8217;s decision to include left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni resting medium-pacer Venkatesh Prasad appears to be right in the light of first day8217;s play. For, Jayasuriya, bowling from the Jaika Motors end this evening, extracted some turn.

All good indicators for the Indians to go for the kill.

SCOREBOARD

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INDIA 1st innings: Nayan Mongia c Muralitharan b Pushpakumara 11 17b, 18m, 2215;4; Navjot Singh Sidhu batting 64 131b, 182m, 10215;4, 1215;6; Rahul Dravid batting 47 112b, 161m, 6215;4; Extras: 2lb, 9nb 11; Total: for one wicket in 41 overs; 182 min 133

Fall of wicket: 1-15 Mongia

Bowling: Vaas 11-2-21-0 2nb; Pushpakumara 8-0-34-1 4nb; J Silva 8-2-29-0 1nb; Muralitharan 9-0-37-0 2nb; Ranatunga 1-0-8-0; Jayasuriya 4-2-2-0