Nailbiters 4: Ind vs Zim (Standard Bank Cup Traingular, South Africa)

Paarl.
27th January 1997.

The match belongs to that good old era when Zimbabwe was a respected team, unlike today. It was a kind of team that has nothing to loose and has some very talented players. They did their very best to turn the tables in this game. It was in a way easy too, considering how weak the Indian team was in those days. The day-night game however, had a very strong finish to boast of.

Zimbabwe didn't make a good start in spite of winning the toss, slipping to 51-3, loosing Waller and Flower brothers. But Paul Strang, who showed some spark in the earlier game against South Africa, was promoted up the order. The decision proved fruitful as he made a useful 47(84) and gave his captain Alistair Campbell (61 off 70) a good support. Both were removed by Prasad and Srinath respectively in quick succession. Jadeja's catch to remove Campbell was a blinder. David Houghton (also the Zimbabwean coach) was also removed quickly by Kumble. 179-6 now. But Craig Evans, the happy-go-lucky hitter, or the Zimbabwean Chris Cairns in miniature counter-attacked by making 40 from 32. Thanks to him, Zimbabwe reached 236-8 at the end. It was considered to be a respected score in those days, more so for the Zimbabweans.

Indian reply was similar to Zimbabwe, as they too, lost three quick wickets. The mighty, beefy chicken farmer Eddo Brandes snatched the precious wickets of Tendulkar, Azharuddin and the promoted one-down Srinath. The promising new comers, Ganguly and Dravid steadied the things by a small partnership. But Dravid got run out unfortunately, getting his bat bizarrely stuck on the groung out of his crease.
Ganguly too, departed after a steady 38 off 79 to that man Craig Evans at the score of 110-5.

Things were looking dark, but the street smart Ajay Jadeja and Saba Karim, the newly included keeper took India 56 runs ahead when the harmless looking Paul Strang removed Karim (38 off 46). Campbell then, brought Brandes back. He obliged and removed Jadeja. The only known batsmen now, was Robin Singh. Until then, he wasn't much heard off. But the next hour proved that he has a mighty forearm and an even mightier spirit.

Brandes wasn't content as he bowled Kumble to take his 5th wicket, but that didn't stop Robin Singh. He hoicked some blows with brute power and stole quite a few runs with a surprisingly agile pair of feet. Saleel Ankola (9 off 7) gave him strike smartly but got run out when the score was 229-9.

It boiled down to the last ovre and the last pair of Robin Singh and the shaky Venkatesh Prasad. The menacing Brandes still had an over to spare, so Zimbabwe had the upper hand. But the duo stole some precious runs in the first 5 balls. What's more, that Prasad helped Robin to face the last ball when 2 were needed.

Brandes made the rare mistake by bowling one down the leg side. But the umpire was late in signaling the wide which forced the pair to scamper for a single as they thought they had no other option. The keeper missed the stumps but Brandes collected the ball. He hurled the ball at the stumps which found the target. Robin Singh was well short. Brandes had finished the game with this one last act to ascertain that it was really his night. At the dead of night, the India-Zimbabwe game finished in a tie.

Scorecard.

I REMEMBER: I was suffering from asthma during those days. I remember sitting in a chair in the dimly lit hall, a pungent smelling Ayurvedic oil applied on my body and the electric sauna bag tied around my chest. But with the game like this, the only thing that bothered me was the continuous fall of wickets in the Indian innings!