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A mountain to climb for Rest

By S. Dinakar

Rest of India speedster L. Balaji sends Wasim Jaffer's stump cartwheeling, as Parthiv Patel watches, in Mumbai's second innings on the third day of the Irani Cup match in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI Sept 20. In times like these, there is nowhere to hide on the cricket field. V.V.S. Laxman got under the high, swirling ball at mid-wicket, appeared poised to take the offering, and then, to a huge roar from a goodly crowd, dropped it.

A moment of tragedy for the erring fielder, comedy for the impartial spectators, and much relief to the benefiting batsman. Emotions are never at a premium in the field of dreams.

Earning a reprieve was Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, on seven then, who had stepped down to Harbhajan Singh, only to miscue the stroke.

Actually, this was a lucky day for the Rest of India... Tendulkar departed for just 50. Yet, looking back, given the dominance of the Rest bowling at that point, and the brittleness of the Mumbai middle-order, Tendulkar's added presence and runs surely prevented a collapse. The surging Rest attack was pegged back by Tendulkar and the later half of the order cashed in.

It was easily the nerve-centre of yet another engrossing day of twists and turns on a pitch where there is bite and spin for the spinners, and still a measure of assistance for the pacemen.

At the end of the third day in the TVS-Irani Cup contest at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Rest of India, in pursuit of 340, was 55 for two, Rahul Dravid (16) and nightwatchman L. Balaji (0), together when the stumps were drawn.

Sanjay Bangar (1) shuffled across to Ajit Agarkar to be adjudged leg-before, and Virender Sehwag after playing some typically bright strokes in his 36-ball 36 (7x4), was done in by one that stopped and came from support seamer Robin Morris.

Earlier, skipper Tendulkar (50, 109b, 5x4) and Ramesh Powar (57, 68b, 5x4, 1x6), having a fine match, produced vital knocks, and the strokeful little opener Vinayak Mane (36) and the handy Sairaj Bahutule (36) played a supporting roles as Mumbai reached 244 in the second innings.

In the Rest attack, Zaheer Khan impressed in patches, Harbhajan Singh claimed four wickets, three of them towards the end of the innings, without being anywhere close to his best, and L. Balaji provided glimpses of promise in an incisive morning burst, nailing Wasim Jaffer and Robin Morris, promoted to No. 3, with incoming deliveries; it was surprising that Morris padded up to a ball delivered wide off the crease, the line was always going to take it towards the stumps.

It was Anil Kumble's spell of 12-2-27-2 from the Wallahjah Road end that demanded attention, the leg-spinner getting a few of his deliveries to bounce wickedly, reviving memories of old.

For Mumbai, the 66-run third-wicket partnership between opener Vinayak Mane and Tendulkar in 23.3 overs, and 84 for the seventh in 17.5 between Powar and Bahutule proved invaluable.

Tendulkar was just beginning to find his timing and range when he failed to keep a flick off Zaheer down and Balaji at square-leg reacted swiftly.

The chunky Powar, who can give the ball a real thump, swept, pulled and drove well, before perishing to Dravid at square-leg, Harbhajan being the bowler.

Given the situation it found itself in, Rest needed to hold everything that came its way, but below-par catching let the side down. Apart from Laxman's lapse, Powar, on four, was put down at second slip by Kumble off Zaheer, Bahutule survived on 24, when Dravid was a touch slow in reacting to a sharp catch at slip off Kumble, and Agarkar, on nine, was lucky when an off-colour Parthiv Patel missed a stumping off Harbhajan.

Vinod Kambli, his bold pre-game words notwithstanding, was given a harrowing time by Kumble, before the left-hander, in desperation, heaved against the turn and succumbed at point. It was a sorry sight as this once dominant batsman departed.

Rest has the batting might, but it has a mountain to climb. Mumbai holds the aces.

The scores:

Mumbai — 1st innings: 297

Rest of India — 1st innings: 202

Mumbai — 2nd innings: V. Mane c Sehwag b Kumble 36; W. Jaffer b Balaji 1; R. Morris lbw b Balaji 4; S. Tendulkar c Balaji b Zaheer 50; V. Kambli c Balaji b Kumble 0; N. Shetty c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 17; S. Bahutule c Ganguly b Bangar 36; R. Powar c Dravid b Harbhajan 57; A. Agarkar c Laxman b Harbhajan 22; V. Samant c Balaji b Harbhajan 2; A. Salvi (not out) 0; Extras (b-10, lb-7, nb-2) 19; Total 244.

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-15, 3-81, 4-81, 5-109, 6-115, 7-199, 8-242, 9-244.

Rest of India bowling: Zaheer 16-2-44-1; Balaji 8-3-23-2; Harbhajan 25-5-79-4; Kumble 22-3-66-2; Bangar 3-0-15-1.

Rest of India — 2nd innings: S. Bangar lbw b Agarkar 1; V. Sehwag c Powar b Morris 36; R. Dravid (batting) 16; L. Balaji (batting) 0; Extras (b-1, w-1) 2; Total (for two wkts.) 55.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-55.

Mumbai bowling: Salvi 6-1-23-0; Agarkar 5-2-18-1; Morris 2-0-9-1; Powar 3-2-4-0; Tendulkar 2-2-0-0.

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