Indians not stretched by Zimbabwe A

India did not enjoy a very testing warm-up for their first One-Day International in the triangular tournament, against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Zimbabwe A put up a dismal batting performance, allowing the Indians to romp home to an all-too-easy ten wicket victory in this match played at Sunrise Sports Club, in the heart of the Harare Indian community.

Zimbabwe A suffered a poor start after winning the toss and batting. They lost both openers for 18, but then schoolboy Stuart Matsikenyeri (38) and Craig Wishart (22) overcame keen bowling backed by some superb fielding to improve the position with some bold strokes.

Both fell in quick succession, together with Barney Rogers (0), and the score plummeted to 78 for five. It soon became 84 for seven as Tatenda Taibu ran himself out for four and captain Paul Strang was caught at the wicket first ball.

Dirk Viljoen (12) briefly held up the tourists, but the miserable display continued to a total of 103 all out, off only 32.4 overs. Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Zahir Khan and Hemang Badani took two cheap wickets each.

Virender Shewag got the Indian reply going with some lusty blows, and Sourav Ganguly soon began to find his form, hitting a huge six over long-on.

Shewag generally took the eye, though, playing his strokes with gay abandon, and finished unbeaten on 75 (two sixes, 10 fours), with Ganguly 31.

Only Bryan Strang was able to keep the score within reasonable bounds as the Zimbabwe A bowlers appeared as outclassed as their batsmen. They could and should have done much better, but it wasn't easy to believe on this showing.