The Hindu : Sport : A nightmarish start for India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 18, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport

A nightmarish start for India

BENONI: India had a nightmarish start to its tour of South Africa as it suffered a stinging 37-run loss in the one-day warm-up game here on Thursday.

India's bowling and batting came apart at the seams in spectacular fashion against South Africa `A' — a bunch from whom only a couple have a realistic chance of playing in the World Cup — at the Willowmoore Park.

After allowing the host to get off the hook and post a challenging 255 for eight, the tourist itself pulled the plank from under its own feet to be 82 for six by the 23rd over, and was eventually all out for 218 in 49.1 overs.

The final margin might appear closer but it was because South Africa pressed into service some irregular bowlers.

Only positives

The only positives from the match were the strong statements made by comeback seniors Anil Kumble (two for 31) and Zaheer Khan (three for 43) with the ball and captain Rahul Dravid's stubborn 79.

The Indians failed to deliver the killer punch in the South African innings after Kumble and Zaheer had helped them take a strong grip.

The final five overs went for 68 runs and 96 came from the last 10, allowing South Africa `A' to recover from 116 for six.

And with openers Wasim Jaffer and Sachin Tendulkar falling for only five runs each and the middle order of Suresh Raina and Dinesh Mongia departing for blobs, India was never in the contest despite Dravid being un-displaceable at the other end.

Blistering pace

Fast bowler Dale Steyn did his one-day chances no harm with a haul of five for 22, his blistering pace and hostility proving too hot for the Indians. Since he bowled 10 extras, he actually conceded only 12 runs to the Indians' bat.

The scores: South Africa `A': M. van Wyk c Dhoni b Patel 7, A. Peterson c Tendulkar b Khan 38, H. Amla c Dhoni b Khan 11, N. McKenzie lbw b Kumble 22, A. Prince c Dravid b Pathan 31, J. Rudolph (not out) 72, J. van Wath lbw b Kumble 0, A. Morkel c Kaif b Zaheer Khan 57, R. Telemachus (run out) 2, A. Thomas (not out) 1; Extras (lb-4, w-8, nb-2) 14; Total: (for eight wkts. in 50 overs) 255.

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-44, 3-57, 4-114, 5-116, 6-116, 7-212, 8-232.

India bowling: Pathan 9-0-38-1, Patel 9-3-63-1, Zaheer 10-1-43-3, Sreesanth 10-1-62-0, Kumble 10-0-31-2, Tendulkar 2-0-14-0.

India: W. Jaffer c Prince b Steyn 5, S. Tendulkar c Peterson b Steyn 5, M. Kaif c wan Wyk b Thomas 30, R. Dravid b Steyn 79, M.S. Dhoni lbw b Steyn 7, S. Raina c Amla b Steyn 0, D. Mongia lbw b Thomas 0, I. Pathan b Tshabalala 34, A. Kumble lbw b Rudolph 4, Zaheer c van Wyk b Thomas 13, S. Sreesanth (not out) 8; Extras: (b-1, lb-4, w-21, nb-7) 33; Total: (49.1 overs) 218.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-12, 3-67, 4-81, 5-81, 6-82, 7-166, 8-183, 9-194.

South Africa `A' bowling: van der Wath 10-0-43-0, Steyn 10-3-22-5, Telemachus 9.1-0-37-1, Thomas 9-2-44-2, Tshabalala 10-0-58-1, Rudolph 1-0-9-1. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport