A great Test Match and a great victory

Alistair Campbell

June 22, 2001

Alistair Campbell looks back at Zimbabwe's victory over India in the Second Test Match at Harare.

Well this was probably one of the best Test Matches I have played in. I don't say so because we won, but because of the way it fluctuated from session to session. Every passage of play was an enthralling encounter, with each side holding the upper hand and then losing it.

The first day looked to be ending with us firmly in control,having bowled India out for 237 on a good batting wicket. However with us having to face just 11 overs, we succumbed to 31 for 3 with some very poor shots and suddenly the game was back in the balance.

We needed our remaining batsmen to dig in on day two and that they did. Everyone, including the tailenders, made some contribution with Grant Flower anchoring the innings with a superb 86. We managed to scramble and scrape our way to a first innings lead of 78 to take the upper hand in the game.

Day three dawned with us knowing that this was a make or break day as far as us winning the Test Match was concerned. It was still a very good pitch for batting and our bowling and fielding would have to be spot on for us to drive home our advantage.

What transpired was probably the best Zimbabwe have bowled in a long time -however, the reward was not there and India looked to be moving to a healthy second innings total. Blignaught took the new ball for the last over of the day and removed Dravid with his fourth ball to put the game back in the balance.

We reckoned that 250 was a getable score to win the game and anything under that would be a bonus. What transpired on that cool Monday morning was nothing short of extraordinary. Blignaut and Streak, with a mixture of good bowling and poor shots from the Indian batsmen, bowled them out for 234 which meant we had taken their last seven wickets for 37 runs.

We knew that our pursuit of 157 runs would be very nervy as the Indians would give it everything. Not only that but our premier batsman Andy Flower had dislocated his thumb and probably would not bat. We got there in the end with six wickets down and Andy Flower having to bat and fittingly hitting the winning runs. Carlisle batted superbly under pressure to guide us home, making a career-best 62 in the process.

So we had won the Test to square the series - a great achievement against a very good Indian side. India have still to improve on their away record and will feel very disappointed. After a very good Monday night with much cheap wine and laughter it is back to the drawing board to prepare for the triangular series which also features West Indies. This should be a very competitive series, which we hope to do well in, as it will be nothing short of disaster if what has just happened in England happens here, where the home side does not make the finals.

So before we even start we are under some pressure and we are going to have to come to terms with that and two very good teams if we are going to achieve a berth in the finals. An exciting two weeks lie ahead.

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