Zimbabwe thrive as Flower blossoms in Indian conditions

There are days when a batsman stands tall and plays well outside his perceived ability. There are days when a team revels in distinguished mediocrity when things aren't going their way. There are days when an unlikely pair come together and defy all odds. Today was one of those days. Andy Flower was that peerless batsman, Henry Olonga his partner and India the hapless side at the receiving end. Andy Flower's marathon unbeaten 183 put Zimbabwe in a strong position at the end of the second day's play at the Feroz Shah Kotla. The visitors amassed 422/9 before declaring and putting pressure on India.

Resuming on a less than inspiring 232/5, Zimbabwe would never have imagined that they would be in a position to declare after putting over four hundred runs on the board. As it happened, the Indian team's inability to deliver at crucial times helped Zimbabwe do this and more. Javagal Srinath once again gave India a breakthrough early in the day. Removing Heath Streak before he could add to his overnight score of 25, Srinath opened the door for the spinners. The spinners however, had no idea what to do, once this door was opened for them.

At 325/9 Zimbabwe were on the ropes. Or so we thought. Henry Olonga is a rather unpredictable man. When he's bowling, he's troublesome - either for the opposition batsmen or for his captain. Today, the Indians would not have minded facing up to Olonga at his quick best. The sight of him occupying the crease for 90 balls was something the Indians would badly like to have avoided. To achieve that however, you need bowlers. Sourav Ganguly's decision to go into this match with only four bowlers was widely criticised. The way things have panned out, justifiably so it seems. Having opted to go with just the four bowlers, Ganguly's reluctance to hand the ball to Murali Kartik is another situation that needs to be addressed. And fast, if India want to go at the Zimbabweans with a serious thought of winning.

The visitors' attitude in this regard is beyond doubt. When Andy Flower was a mere 17 runs from reaching what would have been a memorable double hundred. If Heath Streak harboured any thoughts of batting on till Andy Flower notched up his double ton, those thoughts certainly did not get in the way. At 422/9 Zimbabwe spared the Indians a further drudgery and declared their innings closed. Not before Andy Flower had given the Indians a lesson in batsmanship in their own backyard. Applying himself immaculately, Flower cornered the Indian bowling. Milking them for timely singles and twos, Andy Flower broke the monotony by striking boundaries at will. Whether it was pulling the fast bowlers, or sweeping the spinners, Andy Flower was always in control. The day clearly belonged to him, and therein to Zimbabwe.

When India played Bangladesh in last month, they managed to concede 400 runs in the first innings. Snide remarks abounded at how India narrowly missed the ignominy of allowing Bangladesh to declare their innings. There was no such escape this time. The Flower-Olonga combine added an unbeaten 97 runs for the last wicket. Heath Streak once again refused a chance to make history. If the pair had been allowed to continue on, and add another three runs, it would have been only the second time India would have conceded three figures to the last pair.

Statistics and records clearly don't interest the Zimbabwean captain. Pressing on for a win was clearly high on Streak's list of priorities. Sending down seven overs to Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das, the Zimbabweans tried hard for early breakthroughs. Fortunately for India there was no further damage and they went through to stumps at 9 for no loss. Still 413 behind, India will have to do something very special to regain the initiative.