da cassino online： After the loss of the second day, the warm-up match between Zimbabwe Aand the Indians petered out into the expected draw, although India didturn down a chance of an outright win when they decided againstenforcing the follow-on
John Ward30-May-2001After the loss of the second day, the warm-up match between Zimbabwe Aand the Indians petered out into the expected draw, although India didturn down a chance of an outright win when they decided againstenforcing the follow-on. In reply to their first innings of 336 fornine declared, they dismissed Zimbabwe A for 175 and then, battingagain, scored 150 for seven.In contrast to the aborted second day of the match, Day Three beganwarm and sunny. With the notable exception of Craig Wishart, theZimbabwe A Test hopefuls failed to make anything of their opportunity.Hamilton Masakadza (8) soon fell, caught at slip off Ashish Nehra, andZimbabwe A were 37 for two.Then followed the only notable partnership of the innings, betweenopener Dion Ebrahim and Wishart. Debashish Mohanty initially erred inlength and was punished by both batsmen. Wishart pulled shortdeliveries with particular relish, and also produced the odd powerfulstraight drive to the overpitched ball. He looked every inch a batsmanwith a point to prove. Had those responsible sought to boost hisfragile confidence instead of condemning him to live in constantinsecurity, he could be a successful Test regular.By contrast, current Test player Ebrahim found it difficult to timethe ball, but hung in there with determination. When Harbhajan Singhmade a belated arrival at the bowling crease, Wishart immediately hithim for six over long on, but then skied a ball safely between twofielders. Just before lunch, Zahir Khan began a collapse by havingEbrahim (47) caught at slip and then yorking Craig Evans first ball.Viljoen (5) was lbw to Harbhajan and Zimbabwe A were suddenly reelingat 139 for five.Then Wishart, his concentration apparently disturbed by the comingsand goings at the far end, hung a limp bat out feebly to Khan and wascaught at the wicket. He had hit 68 off 85 balls. Finally TatendaTaibu (1) was caught at short leg off Harbhajan on the stroke oflunch, and Zimbabwe A were 143 for seven, having lost five wickets forjust ten runs. India had struck back with a vengeance.The disasters continued for Zimbabwe A after the interval, as TravisFriend (4) had his middle stump uprooted by a quicker yorker fromHarbhajan Singh, and Bryan Strang (0) was caught at first slip offNehra. Brian Murphy (9 not out) hung on while David Mutendera (13)enjoyed some thick edges and one powerfully driven boundary beforebeing caught again by Sachin Tendulkar at first slip. Zimbabwe A wereall 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 theyboth had some uncomfortable moments early on against Strang andFriend. 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, playingoccasional attacking strokes but seeming content to wait for the looseball rather than plunder the bowling. Friend tried two short balls toTendulkar, 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 secondtime in the match, as the little maestro hit too early and was caughtat 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 waythat would have had serious consequences in a Test match, and two morequick wickets followed. Rahul Dravid did not bat again, and as thematch meandered to a close Harbhajan Singh (25*) entertained the crowdof several hundred, mainly schoolchildren, with a few big hits.