Tour Match: National Cricket Academy XI v Zimbabweans at Indore, 8-10 Nov 2000 CricInfo Live Report

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Tour Match: National Cricket Academy XI v Zimbabweans at Indore, 8-10 Nov 2000
Anand Vasu

Zimbabweans 1st innings: Day 1 - Lunch, Day 1 - Tea, Day 1 - Stumps,

CAMPBELL SLAMS HUNDRED, SETS UP DECLARATION

Resuming on 217/5 at tea, the Zimbabweans made merry in the last session. Losing just one more wicket, they added 105 runs before declaring their innings closed.

When Zimbabwe decided they had had enough of a bat, Campbell was unbeaten on 114. His innings included 12 fours and three hits that sailed over the ropes. The biggest of those was a clout off Mohammed Kaif that disappeared back over the bowler's head.

With just nine overs to play out and light fading gradually, Sridharan Sriram and Nikhil Doru came out to bat. While Doru was flamboyant, Sriram stuck to his cautious method. Driving through the off side with confidence and skill, Doru raced to 14 in no time. Unfortunately for the lad, he drove hard at a ball wide of off stump and dragged the ball back onto his stumps. Playing away from his body, the Rajasthan opener's first mistake cost him his wicket.

Sharandeep Singh joined Sriram out in the middle and the pair safely saw NCA to stumps. Sriram was unbeaten on a patiently compiled 8 and the NCA were 28/1.

ZIMBABWE MAKE STEADY PROGRESS

Two quick wickets after lunch halted Zimbabwe's progress. Stuart Carlisle (61) was scalped by mediumpacer Rakesh Patel. Establishing a good rhythm after lunch, Patel pounded in and hit the deck hard. Andy Flower replaced Carlisle and he didn't last too long. Usually Zimbabwe's most dependable batsman, Flower padded up to a straight ball from Patel and the dreaded finger went up. Although very much in line, the ball was still climbing and could easily have gone on to miss the stumps. As it turned out, the umpire sent Flower on his way before he could open his account.

Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan bowling an extended spell deceived the youthful Trevor Madondo with a well flighted delivery. Giving Vidyut the charge, Madondo found his bails quickly whipped off by Ajay Ratra. Having been let off in the slips off the very first ball he faced, Madondo looked shaky in his entire essay that yielded 28 runs.

Guy Whittall and Alistair Campbell then teamed up and defied the NCA bowling attack. Although the two very extremely defensive, they were fed with a regular supply of loose deliveries and that kept the scoreboard ticking over. The NCA had their fair share of chances but at least two catches went begging. Sridharan Sriram at slip let off Campbell when he was 44 and later the Tamil Nadu southpaw was again the defaulter as an edge went past him and raced to the boundary.

At Tea, Zimbabwe had made moderate progress and were at 217/5. Campbell had grafted for 59 while Whittal had a slow 13 to his name.

CARLISLE CONSOLIDATES FOR ZIMBABWE IN TOUR OPENER

Zimbabwe skipper Guy Whittall had no hesitation in electing to bat first after winning the toss at the Nehru Stadium at Indore. However, Zimbabwe's start to this tour was less than brilliant as Gavin Rennie guided a well pitched delivery from mediumpacer Rakesh Patel to the waiting hands of India hopeful Ajay Ratra behind the stumps.

Young opener Doug Marillier too fell early. Playing away from the body, Marillier gave skipper Reetinder Singh Sodhi his first wicket of the match. Unable to resist temptation, Marillier chased a short ball well outside off-stump. The ball kissed the outside edge and Tamil Nadu southpaw Sridharan Sriram took a smart catch in the slips.

After the fall of two wickets, with just 58 on the scoreboard, the Zimbabweans began to consolidate. Who better to do the job than Alistair Campbell and Stuart Carlisle. Taking on an NCA attack that lacked focus, Campbell was solid while Carlisle flourished. Having started well, Sodhi erred as many Indian quick bowlers have. His bowling was too short, allowed the batsmen width and was duly punished. However, even after being smacked for 12 runs, he returned the figures of 6-1-20-1 at lunch.

On display were two young spinners - Tamil Nadu left armer Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan and Punjab offspinner Sharandeep Singh. Neither was particularly impressive. The Zimbabweans took to Vidyut, and every loose delivery he dished out was put away.

The crowd at the Nehru stadium was surprisingly large given the low key nature of the game. They were treated to some sensible batting, which saw Zimbabwe through to 121/2 at lunch. Carlisle was unbeaten on 57 while Campbell had helped himself to a leisurely 11.