IT was one of those matches which make a mockery of the excitement one associates with limited overs cricket. Three quick Zimbabwean wickets and India was dictating the match from that stage to ultimately sign off in style. A win by nine wickets was ample indication of India's dominance and there was little for the avid cricket fan to have remembered from such a one-sided contest.
The reason for such a poor match was the mental state of the Zimbabwean cricketers on the eve of the encounter. The focus was on happenings off the field where Heath Streak had stepped down as captain in the previous match. Even though he had taken the reins again for the match against India, Zimbabwe was not in the best frame of mind to take on an opposition of this strength.
India completed a comfortable victory and skipper Sourav Ganguly was obviously delighted with the result even though his contribution remained mixed - shabby with the bat and encouraging with the ball as he picked up two wickets.
The pitch was helpful to the bowlers and the manager of the team, Chetan Chauhan, said, "it was a lucky toss to win." Ganguly did not fully agree with his assessment, "The toss was crucial but not the decisive factor. I thought we bowled well. Of course, Zimbabwe had its batting problems, but we bowled well to skittle them out," said the Indian skipper.
The spectators applauded when they saw Streak walk out for the toss. The issue appeared to have been resolved, even if temporarily. Streak was seen as a player's man but there was also the feeling that he was the best suited to guide the side in these troubled times.
Streak chose the wrong time to make his point and that of his mates. By raising the issue of selection with the Board he made room for a debate which was long overdue. "It was not an out of the blue decision," he said on the eve of this match, indicating that the controversy had been brewing. The players were actually waiting to strike.
It hardly affected the Indians, who were very clinical in their performance. The bowlers did an excellent job and there was reason for Ganguly to be pleased.
Delhi left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra was the pick of the bowlers as he made a splendid debut, making an impression with his positive attitude - wanting to take wickets and not looking to contain the batsmen.
"I knew I had to attack. I never felt nervous at any point," said a beaming Nehra, who bowled his quota in one spell, making a mockery of the stiff neck which had bothered him for nearly three days.
"He bowled well. He should be pretty pleased with his debut," said Ganguly on Nehra's incisive spell which began with a wicket off the second ball of the match.
"I just aimed at bowling a tight line and length. It was important for me not to discard my natural style of attacking and I'm glad I could contribute to the team's victory," said Nehra, who was a contender for the 'Man of the Match' award which went to Sachin Tendulkar for his attractive half-century.
For Zimbabwe, the nightmare was unexpected. After the Test victory, there was a growing belief that the team was progressing according to a well-planned programme. The faith in the team rose even as the West Indies recorded a comfortable victory. The faith was based on the fact that the Zimbabwean cricketers were beginning to realise their potential.
All the hopes were dashed in quick time when the top half of the Zimbabwean batting crashed in a heap against India. There was none to guide the side and the absence of Andy Flower was a factor which could not have been ignored. The inconsistent form of Alistair Campbell was another factor which caused the Zimbabwe batting collapse.
Zimbabwe had little chance of making a match of it after this. But for Dion Ebrahim the team would have been in an embarrassing position. His patient innings was not the kind of essay which would have been appreciated by spectators expecting entertainment on a Sunday, but it came in for praise from Streak. "Dion showed us the way to bat on such a track," said the Zimbabwean skipper.
Among the Indians who excelled was Ajit Agarkar, who bowled a tidy spell to pick up three wickets. Zaheer Khan was on the mark and was well supported by Ganguly who gave himself a good bowl and ended up with two wickets against his name.
Then there was this knock by Hemang Badani, who preferred staying in Tendulkar's shadow. It was a typically strokeful innings by Badani, a very gifted batsman. "Looks very good," former Zimbabwe coach and captain Dave Houghton said of this Tamil Nadu left-hander. And last, but not the least, was the fielding show by Reetinder Singh Sodhi.
For the home team, the performance of the day came from the diminutive Tetenda Taibu. His cameo innings may have only delayed the end but it was received very well by the spectators. Taibu, making his debut, was the only gain from this match for Zimbabwe.
The scores:Zimbabwe: A. Campbell c Dighe b Nehra 0; D. Ebrahim c Laxman b Agarkar 32; S. Carlisle c Laxman b Zaheer 6; G. Flower b Zaheer 4; G. Whittall c Dravid b Agarkar 7; D. Viljoen c Ganguly b Nehra 1; H. Streak (run out) 16; A. Blignaut c Harbhajan b Ganguly 13; T. Friend c Sehwag b Ganguly 11; T. Taibu (not out) 19; B. Strang b Agarkar 4; Extras (b-4, lb-4, nb-5, w-7) 20; Total (in 41.5 overs) 133.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-15, 3-20, 4-35, 5-39, 6-77, 7-82, 8-102, 9-104.
India bowling: Nehra 10-2-33-2, Zaheer 7-1-18-2, Agarkar 9.5-2-26-3, Harbhajan 9-0-28-0, Ganguly 6-1-20-2.
India: S. Ganguly c Taibu b Streak 2; S. Tendulkar (not out) 70; H. Badani (not out) 52; Extras (lb-2-, nb-2, w-9) 13; Total (for one wkt. in 26.2 overs) 137.
Fall of wicket: 2.Zimbabwe bowling: Streak 6-0-28-1 Bryan Strang 6.2-0-30-0, Friend 8-2-41-0, Bliganut 6-0-36-0.
In a familiar roleAS he stood smiling, and acknowledging the cheers from an appreciative audience, Sachin Tendulkar presented a picture of a man who was enjoying every moment of it. It was not as if he was being so honoured for the first time. He was performing a role which comes so naturally to him.
Even though it was not the best of his innings, it carried the Tendulkar stamp as he played some outstanding shots in his matchwinning knock.
The range was wide enough to keep the opposition on its toes and Tendulkar enjoyed every bit of it. He likes matchwinning roles more than individual honours and here he was playing one for the sake of the team.
"We had decided to stick to the basics. It was more important that we won. More important than an individual scoring," said Tendulkar of his innings which fetched him the 'Man of the Match' award.
There were a few plans put in action and what stood out was the ease with which the Indians shut the opposition out. Tendulkar was at the helm of it, playing an innings of discipline. There was a purpose in the manner in which Tendulkar paced his innings and ensured that he finished the job.
With Hemang Badani giving him company, Tendulkar prospered to dominate the Zimbabweans, none of the bowlers making an impression on him. It was important that Tendulkar scored the runs but it was also significant that he guided his young partner. It was this characteristic of Tendulkar's innings that stood out. He was engaged in a team effort and it showed in the end as Badani too reached a half century.
It is not easy to motivate yourself always but Tendulkar stays focussed day in and day out. "I enjoy playing cricket," he says and it was reflected in his unbeaten essay.
"I'm happy the team won," was Tendulkar's honest remark as he analysed the day's performance. The emphasis was on the team winning and not his success with the bat.
Coach John Wright maintains that the team could do with a few more players with the same attitude as Tendulkar. It is not possible to possess the same talent but the team can try to emulate his dedication and powers of inspiration.
Tendulkar can never be satisfied by any performance. He has set such high standards for himself that there are many occasions when a gem from him would be dismissed as a routine knock. For the spectators at the Harare Sports Club, the day was made by Tendulkar's innings. His admirers were not just in the stands, but in the opposition ranks too.
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