Tame Draw in Ahmedabad
Monday, October 13 2003
A combination of conservative Sourav Ganguly captaincy and resolute New Zealand batting has helped to ensure a draw in the First Test in Ahmedabad.
New Zealand began Day 5 of the match at 1/48, with nightwatchman Daryl Tuffey only offering minimal nuisance value early on before falling to Anil Kumble for 8.
Stephen Fleming then joined a solid Lou Vincent at the crease before becoming Harbhajan Singh's first wicket of the day when he was caught by VVS Laxman for just 8, a disappointing return.
Scott Styris' solid first innings score was immediately nullified when his side needed him most, trapped in front of his stumps to Kumble on 0.
When Craig McMillan strode to the wicket to join Vincent, it seemed inevitable that Kumble would run through the remainder of the batting order.
McMillan, however, started uncharacteristically slowly, leading to the thought that he has matured in his time out of the side.
Vincent continued his patient display and the pair slowly but surely held the Indian attack art bay, going to lunch with their wickets in tact.
After the break, Vincent passed 50, continuing to grind down the attack before he was bowled by Kumble for 67.
When Jacob Oram fell for 7 nine overs later and Nathan Astle fighting an upset stomach, few predicted the New Zealanders would mount any sort of challenge for the draw.
However, a combination of moderate Ganguly field placing and stubborn batting from the seasoned pair of Astle and McMillan allowed New Zealand 4 wickets in hand entering the final 20 overs.
McMillan, meanwhile, was quite possibly played the best innings of his career to date in what has been an undistinguished career to date.
In a pitch that offered few, if any, demons to a batting side the pair successfully negotiated the remainder of the day to allow the tourists on what Day 2 appeared an unlikely draw.
They Black Caps were helped by some tactically impotent fields set by captain Ganguly. Usually so aggressive on and off field, Ganguly looked far too relaxed, and the sides body language suggested the match would only ever end up in a draw.
Final Scores
India 500/5 dec. (R Dravid 222, S Ganguly 100*, VVS Laxman 64)
New Zealand 340 (N Astle 103, D Vettori 60, C McMillan 54, Z Khan 4/68)
India 209/6 dec. (R Dravid 73, VVS Laxman 44, P Wiseman 4/64)
New Zealand 272/6 (C McMillan 83*, L Vincent 67, N Astle 51*, A Kumble 4/95)
Match Drawn.
Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Rahul Dravid (India)
Series level 0-0 after 1 match.
Posted by Andre
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