Dravid (137) and Dighe rescue Indians

Under a sky half-covered in light cloud and against a backdrop of the Bvumba Mountains at the beautiful Mutare Sports Club ground, India began their six-week tour of Zimbabwe on Monday. The highlight of the first day of their match against Zimbabwe A was a brilliant century by Rahul Dravid, which enabled them to declare at 336 for nine. They then took one wicket for 33 runs in 16 overs by the close.

The pitch contained some bounce but the ball did not appear to come on to the bat, while the outfield was uneven. However, for a recently revived ground with new developments taking place all the time, it was commendable. There was a keen Monday morning crowd of about 200, mostly parties of schoolchildren, and the number doubled during the afternoon.

India made a steady start against the bowling of Bryan Strang and Travis Friend for half an hour before both openers fell in quick succession. Sadgopan Ramesh (13) chopped a lifter from Friend on to his stumps, while Shiv Sunder Das (4) snicked Strang to wicket-keeper Taibu in the next over. India suddenly found themselves at 18 for two.

Venkatsai Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar both settled in, content to wait for the bad ball, but neither was to go on to play a major innings. Tendulkar, driving straight, hit a ball back at Mutendera's midriff, which he juggled and finally grasped to send the little master on his way for 11. Laxman continued to leave the off-side fielders standing with his powerful stroke play, but then, when on 24, he played back to Mutendera and was bowled through the gate. Overall Friend looked the best of a good trio of bowlers, showing good pace and stamina after a long layoff from the game.

Saurav Ganguly (12) was next to go, brilliantly caught low down by Friend at second slip off Mutendera; at 71 for five after 26 overs with only Rahul Dravid of their top order remaining, India were in unexpected trouble. Wicket-keeper Samir Dighe, though, made an immediate positive impression at the crease, looking more comfortable than some of his superiors, and the pair were still there at lunch.

The afternoon session produced cricket as different as day from night. Dravid and Dighe batted superbly until after tea in a fine partnership, with Dravid's share a glorious century. India appeared to have decided at lunch to take the initiative, as Dravid, pulling and driving with time to spare, took 16 runs off Friend's first over after the break. The onslaught continued, with runs now coming at about six an over. The batsmen used their feet to leg-spinner Brian Murphy and pulled fiercely at anything short, Dravid quite belying his reputation as an accumulator with one dazzling stroke after another. No bowler was able to restrain the flow of languid, beautifully timed boundaries all round the wicket. With tea drawing near the scoring slowed, as Dravid approached his century with caution and Zimbabwe A resorted to defensive field placing.

Dravid's hundred finally came off 97 balls. It took a while to warm up again after tea, and just as Dravid was getting into his stride again and taking Murphy apart, the leg-spinner lured him into an uppish drive to mid-on and he departed for 137, scored off 135 balls, with 22 fours and a six. India were now 296 for six, and the partnership with Dighe had added 225.

Murphy also claimed the wicket of Dighe, lbw for 87. Zaheer Khan (14) and Harbhajan Singh (19) hit freely before Ganguly declared with the score 336 for nine. Mutendera took three for 69, Murphy three for 77 and Friend two for 70.

Zaheer Khan and Debashish Mohanty opened the bowling with some fire but an absence of line, and Gavin Rennie (1) was highly annoyed to be given out caught by the keeper while chasing a ball from the latter well down the leg side. Dion Ebrahim (25) and Hamilton Masakadza (6) played safe for the close.