Ind vs SA - Future Cup 2008 - Day 1 summary
March 27th 2008 15:53
This match started off quite promptly on time despite metereologists here forecasting showers. If it matters, there is a pretty poor forecast for the next two days as well. Maybe we can take it that it would be bright, sunny and humid for the next two days then?
Newly forged, the opening combine of Neil Mckenzie and Graeme Smith, may have been. But it was not lacking in confidence by any margin. South Africa won a very crucial toss. First game on an away series on a wicket which was so obviously batsman-favouring that it would have amounted to sacrilege had a captain elected to field first.
The first couple of hours, well, the first couple of sessions belonged to the Springboks. And it was only in the last session that India fought back with any conviction. R.P.Singh and Sreesanth opened the bowling for India and it was apparent that R.P. Singh was not at 100% fitness. He was well down on his pace and there was no real movement - either through the air or off the pitch. The batsmen quite enjoyed playing the lanky left armer. Sreesanth from the other end had a pretty good first spell. He beat the bat of both batsmen on many an occasion but was not particularly lucky.
Mckenzie started off far more positive than his captain. Some of his cover driving was very easy on the eye. And yes, the pull stroke for which McKenzie is so very known for, was also there. One stroke late in the second session with his left foot off the ground in mid-swivel was a delight to the eyes. It was also very uplifting to see the Chennai crowd appreciate good cricket - whether it was from the South Africans or from the Indians.
Smith was far from confident but he was helped by the fact that he had R.P. bowling for the most part against him and the left armers line was consistently on middle and leg. Smith is one of those players who has a very unique grip which makes him drag balls from anywhere down to the leg side. In fact it is very difficult to get him to play through the offside or straight. India did not bother testing him too much outside the offstump too much when they started off and they paid for this mistake.
Smith and Mckenzie strung together a century partnership at ease and at a good rate. The pitch did not have too much in it. And despite many experts' claim that the Chennai wicket had good pace and bounce, the wicket stayed true to its nature. Completely benign to start off. It is expected to assist the spinners as the game goes on. And because it is already very dry, it will not be surprising if the wicket starts aiding spinners starting from tomorrow. Even late today, Kumble and Harbhajan were getting purchase from the wicket.
The first session was a complete disappointment to the home team. The visitors were racking up runs at the speed of light and one of our fast bowlers was so out of rhythm as to be a liability. Sreesanth though bent his back all through today and toiled manfully. While one or two inside edges from Mckenzie failed to rattle the timber, he would probably have been miffed the most with a regulation wicket keeper's catch being put down by Dhoni off Smith.
In the smoldering and heavy heat of the Chennai sun, Sreesanth ran in consistently to test Smith well outside his off stump. And it must be said that the burly Springbok captain looked extremely vulnerable outside his offstump apart from looking ungainly in his attempts to play those balls. One of these balls swung into the batsman pretty late and got the inside edge. Dhoni did very well to get to that ball and almost grab it in his gloves. But he never had any sort of control over the ball. Even as he landed on the ground, the ball was not within the cup of his gloves. Nowhere near in fact. But Dhoni did not notice this and got up a little too soon. At about 1.12 seconds, technology would have us believe. And in the process of getting up he lost control of the ball, dropped it and inadvertently kicked it away too.
Asad Rauf gave the right decision - not out. But Smith was not to remain a thorn in India's side for too long. To a standard Kumble leg spinner pitched just on off stump, Smith tried his usual swinging the oar pedal shot and Sehwag took a smart catch at short mid on. India had drawn first blood and the crowd got new life. Though they have never really quietened down, that wicket brought out the best in them.
Anil Kumble needed to be lauded not just for that wicket but for his tireless attempts and very good field placement in spite of being faced with adversity. The oppostion had gotten away with a massive start and the conditions were anything but favourable to the fielding team. To add to that, his opening bowler was having a bad off day and his off spinner too did not promise much. But he simply ran in manfully over after over. It must also be said that he did not overbowl himself. That is a remarkable characteristic. Being a bowler captain the temptation must have been there. But he managed his resources remarkably well considering the conditions and circumstances.
Just reward for all the innovation and toil.
India looked a different team after that wicket. Harbhajan too started tossing the ball more up in the air and getting grip off the pitch. Curiously it was one over bowled by Sehwag at the other end which really got Harbhajan going with his game. A beautiful over to Mckenzie followed where he made the batsman reach out to a ball pitched slightly outside off stump. The batsman missed and the ball thudded into the keepers' gloves. There was a vociferious appeal but it was not really apparent as to whether that was out. But Dhoni did not appeal convincingly which leads us to believe that there might not have been an edge. The next ball was even better. Slightly flatter, even more wider and just that touch fuller. It drew the batsman out and made him get that bat going in front of his pad and away from his body. The edge was sought and achieved. And the good job was completed by Dravid at slip. The veteran made a difficult catch look surprisingly easy.
Mckenzie though, it must be said, deserved a century. He got out in the 90s. Which brought Kallis in. Kallis looked completely unconvincing against the spinners right from the beginning. This was in complete contrast to the sedate and assured Hashim Amla at the other end. In fact Amla was negotiating the spinners with panache and ease mixed with a dollop of style too. Unmistakably delectable shots off his legs brought out his subcontinental origin. Those steely wrists and grace gave him away. He is a dour batsman by temperament but when he chooses to play his shots he can look very graceful.
Kallis was soon to go edging a rising ball from Harbhajan onto his pad for an easy catch. Kallis walked after the dismissal but Harbhajan did not realize that. He kept on appealing to Asad Rauf who gave no reaction whatsoever. At the end of the appeal, the crestfallen expression on Harbhajan's face was actually quite a relief to see - coming after all these allegations against his charcter. It was actually quite endearing to watch. Then finally his team mates helped him realize that Kallis was on his way back of his own volition much to his relief.
That brought in the even dourer Ashwell Prince. Dour he may be but he is indisputably been effective for South Africa. So, when Kumble got him with a very smart catch off his own bowling, India got back into the game with a good last session. The pitch will continue to assist the spinners tomorrow and India should start off on the right footing given the lion hearted performance by the Indian spinners today.
Harbhajan started off looking very poor but towards the end of the day he was back to his menacing best. It is when he starts turning his off spinners that he becomes a real threat. And that is when his straighter deliveries find their mark. Kumble has been steady and has given nothing away as ever.
Having said all that though, at 304 for 4, South Africa are in a commanding position and would look to get to atleast 450 and get India to bat tomorrow - preferably as late as possible.
If the rain gods decide to stay away from Chennai, an interesting finish still looks possible on this match.
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