Placid India fail to hold edge over South Africa
Posted on Mar 29, 2008 at 09:53 | Updated Mar 29, 2008 at 18:45
Comments 
Email 
Print
Tags: cricket, india, south africa
Neither he, nor Mahendra Singh Dhoni could accelerate, and VVS Laxman was left in a difficult situation as first Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini, with some help from Paul Harris, ensured that the visitors were not chasing ghosts.
Dravid slashed a Ntini and edged to Jacques Kallis at slips, Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried to charge Steyn, who put it in short, and all the batsman could do was to glove a catch to Mark Boucher. The bowler then made a mess of Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and R.P. Singh’s furniture. Laxman, a passive onlooker from the other end, was stuck in an indecisive situation, which translated into a tame return catch to Harris.
In the morning session, the thronging crowds jamming the roads were hoping for two things – Virender Sehwag getting to the magic figure of 402, and Sachin Tendulkar get a big score. Neither happened as India went in for lunch at 547 for four on the fourth day of the first Test.
Sehwag was in the zone on Friday, but Saturday saw him in a more human form, ducking and weaving against the new ball that Graeme Smith took, first thing in the morning.
The South Africans bowled with more purpose in the morning, and it seemed even they knew that it couldn’t get any worse than this. Ntini was the successful bowler, though Steyn did his bit by softening up Sehwag with some short stuff.
The shot Sehwag played to get out, under different circumstances, would have been castigated as careless. But if you have 319 runs under your belt, a lazy waft outside the off-stump can be excused, as he edged to McKenzie off Ntini.
A big roar awaited Tendulkar, but that was the only celebration for him, as he played a Sehwag-like waft to Jacques Kallis at second slip, to depart for the 14th duck of his Test career.
Sourav Ganguly is a crowd favourite, and it was no different here. But sadly for the left-hander, who now lives his cricketing life innings to innings, the gradual getting into the groove, proved by three caressed boundaries through the off-side, came to naught as he tried to cut left-arm spinner Paul Harris. The ball bounced more than he had expected, and Mark Boucher held on to the thin edge.
| Ads by Google |
Posted By : viswanathan s
In what way Sehwag''s 319 has helped Indians execpt for records. ...
Total Comments: 37
Read Comment | Post Comment