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India Defeat Zimbabwe

Thursday, February 20 2003

India have bounced back to form after taking a crucial win against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Heath Streak won the toss for the Zimbabweans who elected to field, excluded political outcast Henry Olonga from their starting XI.

India, meanwhile, recalled Ashish Nehra in place of Anil Kumble after the heavy loss to Australia over the weekend.

The Indians elected to open the batting with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag who added 99 for the first wicket before Sehwag was caught by wicket keeper Tatenda Taibu from the bowling of Guy Whittall for a 38-ball 36.

Dinesh Mongia, who made an unimpressive 12, and Tendulkar both fell victim to the left-arm finger spin of Grant Flower, bowling the perfect delivery to take Tendulkar’s off stump when the great man had reached 81.

In the middle order Sourav Ganguly made 24, Yuvraj Singh just 1 and Mohammad Kaif 25 in a solid performance for out-of-form pair Ganguly and Kaif.

Zaheer Khan was unbeaten on 13 with Rahul Dravid after Harbhajan Singh fell for 3 to the skipper Heath Streak.

Dravid was unbeaten on 43, in impressive knock from just 55 balls.

For Zimbabwe, Grant Flower was the pick taking 2/14 from 6 overs. Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Brian Murphy and Douglas Hondo all took 1 wicket in a solid bowling display.

In reply to India’s 255, Zimbabwe made just 172 from 44.2 overs.

Tatenda Taibu, Guy Whittall, Grant and Andy Flower, and Heath Streak all made starts of 20+ yet no one was able to play a match-winning innings as the home side crumbled against a rather impressive Indian bowling display.

Sourav Ganguly took 3/22 from just 5 overs to prove that his value is not only with the bat.

Harbhajan Singh took 2/42 from 10, Javagal Srinath 2/14 and Zaheer Khan 2/23. Virender Sehwag took 1 wicket.

Scores:

India 255 (S Tendulkar 81, R Dravid 43*, G Flower 2/14)

Zimbabwe 172 (T Taibu 29*, S Ganguly 3/22)

India won by 83 runs.

Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Sachin Tendulkar.

Points: India 2.

Posted by Andre