South Africa have India for dessert in Sharjah

When not playing cricket, Srinath loves to surf the net to pick up useful tips and incorporate in his bowling style. On Wednesday, when the Indian 12th man came calling, Srinath, sitting relaxed on a chair in front of a computer in the Media Room at the Sharjah Stadium here, very nearly dropped the computer’s mouse from his hand.

Srinath left the room in a hurry to pad up in a jiffy. The Indian innings was not even at the midway mark with Srinath slated to bat last. That he managed to do a decent job in the middle was more due to the anger of a fast bowler, who knew he had to himself put some runs on the board so that when his own turn to bowl came, he could at least try and have a go at the rival batsmen.

Probably, the computer told him to shed the typical tailender’s timidity and put in an honest effort. It was an evening of shock and disbelief for the Indian supporters gathered here. The recent wins over South Africa in the home one-day series had given some hope but the drummers went silent in the first few minutes of India’s fist round clash with South Africa. All one could hear was the sound of timber as batsman after batsman fell to the revenge-seeking South African pacers.

The drummers woke up only when the record last-wicket Indian partnership between Jadeja and Srinath lent some respectability to the Indian innings and lifted it from a despairing 102 for nine to at least a face-saving 164. But for Jadeja, 43 not out, and Srinath, 30, the match could have been over by supper only.

The problem with the Indian team is that the moment you start believing in them, they pinch you hard. God knows how profound is their self belief too. Once Sachin Tendulkar played across and skipper Saurav Ganguly misread a slower one, the Indian dressing room resembled the quietitude of a funeral.

Once the South Africans sensed blood, they went for the kill. Here was a bunch of `strokeplayers’ the skipper was just tom-tomming about last evening. They were coming into the tourney successfully chasing big scores against the same set of bowlers, barring Makhaya Ntini, who returned to international cricket after a gap of 19 months. However, the Indian bubble burst even before the crowd could settle down.

Though there was a bit of pace and bounce in the track it never took devilish proportions. Otherwise, how could Srinath and Jadeja could bat for 18 overs to put together India’s all-time record last-wicket stand. It also obliterated the all-time record at Sharjah, which was between the West Indians Otis Gibson and Hamish Anthony (46 against Sri Lanka in ’95-96). Almost all the South African bowlers excelled, but Steve Elworthy and Ntini, who seemed determined to resurrect his image and his place in the side after the turbulent phase in his life. Elworthy was both miserly and penetrative, picking up 3 for 17 in his 10 overs while Ntini returned with figures of three for 36.

SCOREBOARD

India:
Sachin Tendulkar b Pollock 5
Saurav Ganguly c Boje b Kallis 27
Rahul Dravid b Kallis 8
Sunil Joshi b Ntini 24
Mohammad Azharuddin c Boucher b Ntini 7
Ajay Jadeja not out 43
Robin Singh lbw Elworthy 1
Saba Karim b Elworthy 0
Ajit garkar b Ntini 1
Anil Kumble c&b Elworthy 8
Javagal Srinath c Gibbs b Boje 30
Extras: (lb 3, w 7) 10
Total: (all out in 45.2 overs) 164
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Tendulkar), 2-42 (Ganguly), 3-50 (Dravid), 4-72 (Joshi), 5-81 (Azhar, 6-81 (Robin), 7-82 (Karim), 8-89 (Agarkar), 9-102 (Kumble)

Bowling: Pollock 8-0-35-1, Kallis 10-1-43-2, Ntini 10-2-36-3, Elworthy 10-3-17-3, Klusener 4-0-21-0, Boje 3.2-0-9-1

South Africa:
Herschelle Gibbs not out 87
Gary Kirsten not out 71
Extras: 10
Total (for no loss, in 29.2 overs)

Bowling: Srinath 4-0-25-0, Agarkar 5-0-29-0, Kumble 7-0-37-0, Joshi 5-0-32-0, Tendulkar 6-0-32-0, Robin 2-1-6-0, Jadeja 0.2-0-4-0

Result: South Africa won by 10 wickets