The Hindu : Sport : Gritty Hall holds SA together

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Sunday, Nov 21, 2004

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Sport

Gritty Hall holds SA together

By Vijay Lokapally

FIRST STRIKE: Anil Kumble is delighted after breaking through the defence of South African captain Graeme Smith. Photo: V.V. Krishnan.

KANPUR, NOV. 20. A new role for Andrew Hall and a familiar one for Anil Kumble created a fascinating contest between the two even though the overall quality of play on Saturday was not in tune with the occasion.

The intensity of a Test match was missing but South Africa gave it a competitive fillip by lasting the day against the probing Indian attack and finishing at 230 for four, distinctly showing the visiting team to have made greater gains. The confidence that adorned Hall's batting was transferred to Boeta Dippenaar, who played to his potential in challenging times.

The pitch played true to the curator's word and the first Test of the series raised hopes of a tactical combat over the next four days at the Green Park Stadium here.

"Not a bad strategy to play three spinners," said India coach John Wright in defence of the combination that left out Irfan Pathan.

Hall, in his maiden assignment as an opener, held the South African innings firm with an unbeaten knock of 78 after Graeme Smith had opted to bat.

"It was a good toss to win but it was a risk that paid off," said Smith on Hall's elevation to the opener's slot. But for Jacques Kallis succumbing to a crass sweep, South Africa may well have finished in a far more durable situation.

India's belief in its spin paid off only at one end when the ever-reliable Kumble kept his team in the fray by claiming all the wickets for the day in two engrossing spells. A pity his colleagues, Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik, came a cropper in favourable circumstances and allowed the game to drift away.

Lack of imagination

"We wanted to bat first but we have to get on. This is a slow pitch and we have to be patient," asserted Wright. The pitch offered slow turn but the Indians lacked the imagination to exploit the openings that came their way through inexperience that marked the opposition ranks. Smith and Jacques Rudolph played on while Martin van Jaarsveld misjudged the length. Kumble, who was outstanding right through, had worked on his victims relentlessly.

To South Africa's credit, the batsmen did not allow the bowlers to dictate at any point. The openers looked convincing as India opted to include just one seamer, Zaheer Khan. But surprisingly it was Sourav Ganguly who found more edges with his variation of pace against the fiercely determined Smith and Hall. The intentions were clearly positive as no scoring opportunity was allowed to pass through. Twice the ball was edged dangerously close to the stumps but then Hall and Smith prospered by demonstrating the ideal approach against an inconsistent attack on a slow track. Strokes square of the wicket showed the poor length that the bowlers managed and runs came at a comfortable pace for South Africa.

Breakthrough

Zaheer paid the price for trying to work up pace before Kumble earned the breakthrough. Smith's forward defence saw the ball bounce back and hit the stumps. It was a bizarre end to a confident innings and reminiscent of a similar dismissal against Upul Chandana in the recent series against Sri Lanka. "It was disappointing because I thought I was batting well," said Smith. Later, Rudolph fell in an identical manner. Martin van Jaarsveld fell victim to Kumble's top-spinner.

Two quick wickets infused enthusiasm among the Indians but Kallis, a veteran of many a rough battle, took immediate control to produce a quality partnership of 85 runs with Hall. This was the decisive phase of the day for South Africa. Hall and Kallis dominated the attack. With Harbhajan, erratic in line, and Kartik, troubled by his run-up, disappointing, the onus was on Kumble but then he could not sustain the pressure on the batsmen for long, as Hall and Kallis played the sweep to good effect. That upset Kumble's rhythm.

Hall was let off at 55 when Kumble failed to latch on to a difficult chance at mid-wicket off Harbhajan. This flaw apart, he did not allow any more complacency to influence his batting. "Hall showed tremendous discipline considering he is basically a strokeplayer. He showed his commitment to the team. I am impressed with the guys and their passion," said Smith.

Kallis showed the way with his compact play, thriving on the sweep and drive before he played across the line. It was a poor shot by his standards and allowed India the escape route. Rudolph was out first ball and Kumble was on a hat-trick, which did not happen as he tested Dippenaar after tea.

Dippenaar, often an unsung performer in South Africa's scheme of things, showed exemplary resolve to defy the Indians in the company of Hall as they garnered 76 priceless runs in an unconquered association that could play a decisive part in charting the course of the contest on Sunday. "Not too unhappy. We restricted them," was how Wright summed up the day.

SOUTH AFRICA — 1st innings

G. Smith b Kumble 37

(91m, 66b, 5x4)

A. Hall (batting) 78

(363m, 274b, 9x4)

M. Jaarsveld lbw
b Kumble
2

(10m, 7b)

J. Kallis lbw b Kumble 37

(130m, 108b, 3x4)

J. Rudolph b Kumble 0

(2m, 1b)

Boeta Dippenaar (batting) 46

(124m, 108b, 5x4)

Extras (b-9, lb-4, nb-12, pen 5) 30

— —

Total (for four wkts in 92 overs 230

— —

Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Smith), 2-69 (van Jaarsveld), 3-154 (Kallis), 4-154

India bowling: Zaheer Khan 15-5-36-0 (nb-5), Sourav Ganguly 4-0-21-0, Anil Kumble 28-11-54-4, Harbhajan Singh 23-5-52-0, Murali Kartik 19-3-39-0 (nb-6), Sachin Tendulkar 3-0-10-0.

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