India  v  Zimbabwe                        Feb  21-25

Check out the latest ground updates done by our correspondent, at the matches.

First Test

THIRD DAY

Live Score

SECOND DAY

February 22, 2002 - 1230 GMT 
Das exposes Zimbabwean bowling with 105

NAGPUR: Opener Shiv Sunder Das cracked an impressive 105 to put India in a strong position on the second day of the first Test against Zimbabwe here on Friday.

The diminutive opener's second Test century enabled the hosts to post 209-2 at stumps in reply to the tourists' 287. Rahul Dravid was batting on 57 and Sachin Tendulkar was yet to open his account.

The 24-year-old Das smashed 19 fours in his 203-ball knock before being caught by Alistair Campbell in the slips while attempting to cut left-arm spinner Raymond Price in the last over of the day. Das fell five runs short of his career-best 110, scored against the same opposition at the same venue two years ago.

He added a record 79 for the opening wicket with Deep Dasgupta (33) and 130 for the second with Dravid on a batsmen's day.

Indian bowlers also struggled in the morning for the last two Zimbabwean wickets after the tourists had resumed at 248-8. They were frustrated by tail-ender Travis Friend, who remained unbeaten with 60.

The Zimbabwean seamers and spinners faced the same ordeal on a batting pitch as they could grab just two wickets in more than two sessions, dominated by the Indian batsmen.

Dravid, returning to the squad after missing a recent one-day home series against England due to a shoulder-injury, proved both his form and fitness during his 24th Test half-century.

Das's partnership with Dasgupta was India's best for the opening wicket against Zimbabwe in eight Tests, the previous highest being 72 between him and Sadagopan Ramesh here two years ago. Wicket-keeper Dasgupta hit one six in his 33 before being bowled by Price, who finished with 2-64 off 23 overs.

Das faced a few anxious moments early in his innings, especially against seamer Heath Streak. He was lucky to survive in the third over when he edged Streak between wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu and first-slip Andy Flower.
He grew in confidence after a brief spell of uncertainty, smashing seven fours in his lunch-score of 28. Das reached his hundred in the closing session when he drove part-time spinner Trevor Gripper through the covers for his 18th four and then firmly pulled the next delivery for another boundary.

Dravid took time to settle down, but played some handsome strokes in the last session and reached his half-century with a cover-driven four off seamer Brighton Watambwa.

Earlier, Friend hit one six and eight fours in his second Test half-century to help Zimbabwe cross the 275-mark after the tourists had been reduced to 194-7 on Thursday. Friend and Price were involved in a record 59-run stand against India, surpassing the previous ninth-wicket best of 33 between Henry Olonga and Adam Huckle at Harare in 1998-99.

Friend, 33 overnight, was more aggressive, hitting paceman Javagal Srinath for a straight six and a four off successive deliveries. India had to wait for more than 12 overs to break the stand, capitalising on poor running between the wickets to account for Price.

Price scored a defiant 18 off 60 balls before being run out, failing to beat an Anil Kumble throw from point to Dasgupta. Kumble then ended the Zimbabwean innings, trapping Watambwa leg-before to finish with four wickets.

February 22, 2002 - 1030 GMT 
Das hits 66 not out as India reply with 115-1

NAGPUR: Opener Shiv Sundar Das struck his 10th test fifty as India made a solid start in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings of 287 all out on day two of the first test on Friday.

The diminutive Das was 66 not out after sharing in a first-wicket stand of 79 with Deep Dasgupta (33) as the hosts reached tea on 115 for one. Dasgupta was bowled not offering a stroke against left-arm spinner Raymond Price, who maintained tight control to return figures of 13-3-41-1 by the interval.

The batsman had lofted Price over long-on for a six and then hit him through the same area for one of his two fours, but was bowled off-stump after being deceived by a straighter delivery.

Das twice came close to being dismissed by fast bowler Heath Streak late in the morning, edging him between wicket-keeper and first slip and then fending him just short of gully. But he overcame his shaky start, cutting Price to the point fence to bring up India's fifty and then steering Streak for another four before reaching his half-century by punching the spinner through covers. Das had hit 12 fours in 122 balls as he and Rahul Dravid (11 not out) began to up the run-rate shortly before tea.

Earlier, tailender Travis Friend smashed an aggressive 60 not out to lift Zimbabwe after they resumed on their overnight 248 for eight. The 21-year-old number nine batsman dominated a 59-run ninth wicket partnership with Price, who made 18, before the visitors were dismissed midway through the morning.

Friend's 70-ball effort, which included eight fours and a six, helped Zimbabwe recover after they had lost their way on a good batting surface following a second-wicket stand of 107 between captain Stuart Carlisle (77) and Alistair Campbell (57).

Friend, 33 not out overnight, played shots with authority as the medium-pacer raced to his fifty in only 70 balls. He joined Price to frustrate the Indian bowlers before the last two wickets fell in the space of one run to leave Friend stranded. The pair steered the visitors closer to the 300-run mark which looked unlikely after a middle-order collapse late on the first day.

Friend attacked paceman Javagal Srinath, hoisting his slower delivery for a huge straight six and flicking his next ball to midwicket for another four. India eventually broke the stand when Price was run out attempting a risky single, failing to beat Anil Kumble's throw from point to wicket-keeper Dasgupta.

Price had just survived against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh when silly mid-off fielder Vangipurappu Laxman could only get his finger-tips to a bat-pad chance, but was dismissed at the same score.

The Zimbabwe innings ended when Kumble trapped last man Brighton Watambwa leg before for a duck. The leg-spinner was the most successful bowler, finishing with four for 82.

February 22, 2002 - 1100 GMT 
Friend thwarts India with unbeaten 60

NAGPUR: Zimbabwean tail-ender Travis Friend slammed an impressive unbeaten 60 to frustrate India on the second day of the first Test here on Friday.

Friend hit one six and eight fours in his second Test half-century as Zimbabwe were all out for 287 in their first innings after resuming at 248-8. India were 41 for no loss in reply at lunch, with opener Shiv Sunder Das smashing seven boundaries in his unbeaten 36-ball 28. Deep Dasgupta was the other not-out batsman on 12.

Friend was involved in a 59-run stand for the ninth wicket with Raymond Price, the second-highest partnership in the Zimbabwean innings after 106 between skipper Stuart Carlisle and Alistair Campbell on Thursday.

India struggled to make a short work of the Zimbabwean tail as Friend and Price continued to bat confidently against both seamers and spinners on an easy-paced pitch. Friend, 33 overnight, was more aggressive than his partner as he hit a straight six and a four in paceman Javagal Srinath's over.

India had to wait for more than 12 overs for their first success of the morning, capitalising on poor running between the wickets to account for Price. Price scored a defiant 18 off 60 balls before being run out, failing to beat an Anil Kumble throw from point to wicket-keeper Dasgupta.

Kumble then ended the Zimbabwean innings, trapping Brighton Watambwa leg-before to finish with 4-81. Zimbabwe were indebted to Friend for reaching a respectable total as they added 93 for their last three wickets after being reduced to 194-7.


February 22, 2002 - 1030 GMT 
Tail-enders come to Zimbabwe rescue

NAGPUR: India reached 41 without loss after 13 overs in reply to Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 287 all out when the lunch was taken on the second day of the first Test here on Friday.

Opener/wicketkeeper Dasgupta was unbeaten on 12 off 43 deliveries and Das was supporting him with 28 not out, punctuated with seven boundaries.

Earlier, resuming the second day on 248 for the loss of eight wickets, the tourists’ tail-enders displayed a spirited resistance.

Friend led them with a superb unbeaten knock of 60 off 70 deliveries, punctuated with eight boundaries and a six to take the Zimbabweans to 287 all out.

Ray Price sharing a 59-run stand with Friend for the 9th wicket scored 18 before being run out. Brighton Watambwa was adjudged leg-before by Anil Kumble.

Zimbabwe’s recovery-march, who were precariously placed at 194 for the loss of seven wickets, disappointed Indians upto many extent.

FIRST DAY

Zimbabwe 248-8 v India

NAGPUR: Zimbabwe were 248 for the loss of eight wickets in their first innings at stumps on the opening day of the first cricket test against India here on Thursday.

February 21, 2002 - 0930 GMT 
India hit back after Carlisle, Campbell shine

NAGPUR: Zimbabwe skipper Stuart Carlisle and Alistair Campbell struck half-centuries before India's bowlers fought back on the opening day of the first Test on Thursday.

At the tea interval, Zimbabwe were 165 for four after electing to bat on a pitch offering little encouragement to bowlers.

Carlisle was unbeaten on 67 after sharing a 106-run second wicket partnership with left-hander Campbell who was out for 57. Grant Flower, on eight, was the other not out batsman.

But three quick wickets late in the afternoon, including that of key batsman Andy Flower for just three, saw the balance of the match swing India's way.

Carlisle was content to play the anchor role, hitting nine fours and a six from 181 balls, while Campbell celebrated his return to the side with some aggressive strokeplay.

The pair bettered the previous Zimbabwean record for the second wicket against India -- 101 between Carlisle and Trevor Gripper made at the same venue in 2000.

Former Zimbabwe captain Campbell drove and swept fluently, hitting nine fours in his 98-ball innings, and reached his 17th Test fifty when he smashed Zaheer Khan to the cover boundary.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble finally broke their partnership when he had Campbell caught by Vangipurappu Laxman at short extra-cover.

Zaheer Khan, who earlier had opener Trevor Gripper caught behind for five, claimed his second wicket when he bowled Andy Flower, Zimbabwe's most prolific batsman, with an inswinging yorker.

Paceman Javagal Srinath then removed Gavin Rennie for nine, forcing him to fend a short, lifting ball to substitute fielder Virender Sehwag in the slips.

Carlisle, who batted patiently in the morning after scoring his first runs off the 14th ball he faced, was more aggressive in the second session, especially against Harbhajan Singh.

After hoisting the off-spinner for a huge six over long-on he cut Kumble to third man for his sixth four to complete his seventh Test fifty.

February 21, 2002 - 0700 GMT 
Zimbabwe make steady start

NAGPUR: Zimbabwe made a slow but steady start in reaching 60 for one wicket at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against India on Thursday after they elected to bat.

Skipper Stuart Carlisle and left-hander Alistair Campbell raised an unbroken 48-run second wicket stand as the visitors recovered from the early dismissal of Trevor Gripper for five.

Carlisle was batting on 22 with left-hander Alistair Campbell 28 not out on his return to the side after being dropped for the recent tour of Sri Lanka which Zimbabwe lost 3-0.

The Indian pace attack found little assistance on a barren, batting track and both batsmen cut out all risky shots against a largely tidy bowling for 28 overs sent down in the session.

Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan provided the breakthrough by having Gripper edging a delivery slanted across the batsman to wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta, who completed a low catch to his right.

Carlisle was watchful through the morning, after playing out two maidens from Javagal Srinath and facing 14 balls to open his account with a cover-driven four against the fast bowler.

He also passed 1,000 Test runs in his 26th Test by driving Sanjay Bangar's medium-pace through covers for his second four after coming into the game needing 13 runs for the landmark.

Carlisle hit three fours in his 94-ball innings. The Indian seamers bowled a good line and length but found little help on a pitch where the two teams had played out a high-scoring draw -- 1,494 runs were scored -- late in 2000.

February 21, 2002 - 0415 GMT
Carlisle elects to bat

NAGPUR: Skipper Sourav Ganguly's prediction that Zimbabwe batsmen may not be a 'sweeping' success against his Indian spinners would be examined closely by the experts of the game as first match of the two-Test series got underway here on Thursday. 

Left-hander Flower, Zimbabwe's leading Test run-getter, was prolific during his side's last tour of India late in 2000. In the absence of the injured Kumble he amassed 540 runs in four innings at an incredible average of 270.

Flower struck unbeaten knocks of 183 and 232 in New Delhi and Nagpur respectively but India claimed the series 1-0 by winning the first Test.

Zimbabwe skipper Stuart Carlisle won the toss and decided to bat first.

India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Shiv Sunder Das, Deep Dasgupta, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkat Laxman, Sanjay Bangar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan. 

Zimbabwe: Stuart Carlisle (capt), Grant Flower, Trevor Gripper, Gavin Rennie, Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Tatenda Taibu, Heath Streak, Raymond Price, Brighton Watambwa, Travis Friend. 

Umpires: Srinivas Venkataraghavan & David Shepherd (Eng). TV umpire: Jasbir Singh. Match referee: John Reid (NZ).