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VB Series: Pathan Rips Through Zim

Wednesday, February 4 2004

Impressive young left arm fast bowler, Irfan Pathan tore through the Zimbabwean top order, as India scraped past Zimbabwe's meager total ahead of the finals series against Australia.

Heath Streak won the toss and elected to bat first on another hard, fast bouncy Perth pitch. The conditions were extremely hot, being an uncomfortable 39 degrees celsius.
For India, Rahul Dravid was taking over the captaincy with Sourav Ganguly and Ajit Agarkar taking rests.

Fast bowler Amit Bhandari made his way into the team alongside Ashish Nehra. For Zimbabwe, Grant Flower was the only one missing, he was ruled out of the final match for the Zimbabwean's with a broken finger.

Irfan Pathan began bowling with the new ball, and with immediate success. Pathan got Vusi Sibanda edging to the safe hands of VVS Laxman at slip for 0. Pathan backed up his first wicket, with another wicket in the same over. Taibu also gone for 0, as he was lbw to Pathan.

With the score at 11, Pathan picked up his third victim of the match, as Dion Ebrahim edged another beautiful Pathan delivery straight down Laxman's throat. The consolidation began with Carlisle and Ervine putting on a 63 run partnership before the brilliant fielding of Yuvraj ran out Carlisle with a direct hit.

Ervine fell next to Amit Bhandari, as he held out to the waiting Murali Kartik who took a wonderful diving catch. Zimbabwe were looking in further trouble at 5/79. Lakshmipathy Balaji joined in on the wicket taking act, as the economical bowler got rid of Heath Streak for 6.

Meanwhile as the wickets tumbled, Stuart Matsikenyeri applied some pressure on the Indian bowlers, as he dispatched the often wayward bowling straight to the boundary. On the other side though, Friend fell to Bhandari for 1, and Blignaut was Nehra's first victim for 2.

Irfan Pathan dislodged Ray Price for 0 and finished up with fine figures of 4/24 from his allocated 10 overs. Stuart Matsikenyeri (36) was the last man to go, as Bhandari picked up his third wicket of the match. Zimbabwe bowled out for just 135.

The Indian chase began well, as Sehwag slammed the ball to the boundary at will. The rather jumpy Sachin Tendulkar however was caught edging behind for just 3 runs, a concern for India ahead of the finals. Sehwag raced along to 23, just before throwing his wicket away as he spooned a ball straight down Matsikenyeri's throat.

India lost further wickets in the chase, as Dravid (10) and Yuvraj (4) both departed relatively cheaply as India started to struggle at 4/73. A stabilising partnership between VVS Laxman and Hemang Badani ensured that India got to the victory target, before Laxman was dismissed, albeit in an unlucky fashion.

Laxman (32) tried to fend a rising short delivery, but it cannoned into the stumps after bouncing off his chest.
A disastrous run out ensued next, with Badani running out Gavaskar in a disastrous mix up.

However, Badani kept his nerve and with his well made 34, guided India past the Zimbabwean total and through to a victory ahead of the first final against Australia at the MCG.

Brief Score Summary:

Zimbabwe: 135 All Out (Matsikenyeri 36, Carlisle 28, Pathan 4/24, Bhandari 3/31)

India: 6/136 (Badani 34*, Laxman 32, Ervine 2/29, Blignaut 2/41)

India Won by Four Wickets

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Irfan Pathan (IND)

Posted by Sangrah