Opening match drawn as Indians opt for batting practice

After the loss of the second day, the warm-up match between Zimbabwe A and the Indians petered out into the expected draw, although India did turn down a chance of an outright win when they decided against enforcing the follow-on. In reply to their first innings of 336 for nine declared, they dismissed Zimbabwe A for 175 and then, batting again, scored 150 for seven.

In contrast to the aborted second day of the match, Day Three began warm and sunny. With the notable exception of Craig Wishart, the Zimbabwe A Test hopefuls failed to make anything of their opportunity. Hamilton Masakadza (8) soon fell, caught at slip off Ashish Nehra, and Zimbabwe A were 37 for two.

Then followed the only notable partnership of the innings, between opener Dion Ebrahim and Wishart. Debashish Mohanty initially erred in length and was punished by both batsmen. Wishart pulled short deliveries with particular relish, and also produced the odd powerful straight drive to the overpitched ball. He looked every inch a batsman with a point to prove. Had those responsible sought to boost his fragile confidence instead of condemning him to live in constant insecurity, he could be a successful Test regular.

By contrast, current Test player Ebrahim found it difficult to time the ball, but hung in there with determination. When Harbhajan Singh made a belated arrival at the bowling crease, Wishart immediately hit him for six over long on, but then skied a ball safely between two fielders. Just before lunch, Zahir Khan began a collapse by having Ebrahim (47) caught at slip and then yorking Craig Evans first ball. Viljoen (5) was lbw to Harbhajan and Zimbabwe A were suddenly reeling at 139 for five.

Then Wishart, his concentration apparently disturbed by the comings and goings at the far end, hung a limp bat out feebly to Khan and was caught at the wicket. He had hit 68 off 85 balls. Finally Tatenda Taibu (1) was caught at short leg off Harbhajan on the stroke of lunch, and Zimbabwe A were 143 for seven, having lost five wickets for just ten runs. India had struck back with a vengeance.

The disasters continued for Zimbabwe A after the interval, as Travis Friend (4) had his middle stump uprooted by a quicker yorker from Harbhajan Singh, and Bryan Strang (0) was caught at first slip off Nehra. Brian Murphy (9 not out) hung on while David Mutendera (13) enjoyed some thick edges and one powerfully driven boundary before being caught again by Sachin Tendulkar at first slip. Zimbabwe A were all out, 161 runs behind, but India declined to enforce the follow-on, preferring batting practice.

Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagopan Ramesh looked in need of it, as they both had some uncomfortable moments early on against Strang and Friend. Das was finally adjudged lbw playing forward to Strang for 12, and shortly afterwards Ramesh (6) was caught in the slips off Friend, reducing the tourists to 22 for two.

Venkatsai Laxman and Tendulkar batted quietly until tea, playing occasional attacking strokes but seeming content to wait for the loose ball rather than plunder the bowling. Friend tried two short balls to Tendulkar, only to have them both pulled effortlessly for four. Immediately after tea Mutendera had the same humiliating experience.

However, Mutendera was to take the wicket of Tendulkar for the second time in the match, as the little maestro hit too early and was caught at extra cover for 33. The same bowler had Laxman caught in the slips, also for 33. Sourav Ganguly (17) disputed his lbw dismissal in a way that would have had serious consequences in a Test match, and two more quick wickets followed. Rahul Dravid did not bat again, and as the match meandered to a close Harbhajan Singh (25*) entertained the crowd of several hundred, mainly schoolchildren, with a few big hits.