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MOHALI (India), March 10: India earned a convincing 64-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second One-day International Sunday to level the five-match series 1-1.
Skipper Saurav Ganguly top-scored with a sparkling 86 from 83 balls as India amassed 319 for five in their alloted 50 overs after electing to make first use of a perfect batting pitch.
Zimbabwe were then bowled out for 255 in 43.3 overs in reply, needing to overhaul the massive target in 49 overs after being penalised one over for a slow over-rate in the day-night encounter.
Pinch-hitter Travis Friend and opener Alistair Campbell shared in a 134-run second wicket partnership as Zimbabwe raised early hopes of pulling off another victory.
But off-spinner Harbhajan Singh struck off successive overs, having Friend stumped for a 59-ball 63 and then trapping Campbell for 62 to reduce the visitors to 143 for three from which they never really recovered.
Ganguly shared in a 109-run opening partnership with Mongia and added another 81 with Vangipurappu Laxman (52) for the next wicket. Rahul Dravid then scored an aggressive 66 not out to anchor the innings until the end.
INDIA:
D. Mongia c Friend b Marillier 45
S.C. Ganguly run out 86
V.V.S. Laxman c Ebrahim b Friend 52
R.S. Dravid not out 66
M. Kaif b Grant Flower 15
A.B. Agarkar c Marillier b Brent 6
S.B. Bangar c Wishart b Brent 0
Harbhajan Singh not out 15
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-5, W-25, NB-2) 34
TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 319
FALL OF WKTS: 1-109, 2-190, 3-243, 4-276, 5-290, 6-291.
DID NOT BAT: A. Ratra, A.R. Kumble, Zaheer Khan.
BOWLING: Streak 10-0-72-0 (1nb, 4w); Friend 10-0-57-1 (10w); Brent 9-0-60-2 (1nb, 9w); Marillier 10-0-51-1 (2w); G.W. Flower 9-0-56-1; Campbell 2-0-16-0.
ZIMBABWE:
A.D.R. Campbell lbw b Harbhajan 62
D.D. Ebrahim c Laxman b Agarkar 1
T.J. Friend st Ratra b Harbhajan 63
A. Flower b Mongia 29
G.W. Flower run out 9
S.V. Carlisle c Ratra b Agarkar 25
C.B. Wishart b Mongia 14
D.A. Marillier c Ratra b Mongia 2
H.H. Streak c Bangar b Kumble 14
T. Taibu not out 6
G.B. Brent lbw b Harbhajan 7
EXTRAS (LB-17, W-5, NB-1) 23
TOTAL (all out, 43.3 overs) 255
FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-138, 3-143, 4-166, 5-204, 6-212, 7-219, 8-229, 9-245.
BOWLING: Zaheer Khan 7-0-42-0 (1nb, 1w); Agarkar 8-0-44-2; Bangar 4-0-32-0 (2w); Kumble 10-0-49-1; Harbhajan Singh 8.3-0-40-3 (2w); Mongia 6-0-31-3.
RESULT: India won by 64 runs.
UMPIRES: A. Bhattacharjee and S.K. Tarapore.
TV UMPIRE: G.A. Pratapkumar.
MATCH REFEREE: J.R. Reid (New Zealand).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Saurav Ganguly.
NEXT MATCH: Cochin, Wednesday.—Reuters
