BULAWAYO (Zimbabwe), Sept 16: India cruised to victory by an innings and 90 runs over Zimbabwe on the fourth day of the first Test on Friday. Spinners Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble wrapped up the innings with the final four wickets as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 185.

Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu finished with 52, top-scoring for his team in both innings, and last man out Gavin Ewing hit an aggressive 34. Off-spinner Harbhajan picked up four wickets for 59 runs, while left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan finished with four for 53 after his spell with the new ball had reduced Zimbabwe to 18 for five on the third evening.

It was Zimbabwe’s fifth successive innings defeat after losing last month’s test series against New Zealand 2-0 and big losses in South Africa in March.

“I thought we played well here in Bulawayo and to beat them by an innings was great,” India captain Saurav Ganguly told reporters.

“Zimbabwe were a good side a couple of years ago and now they’ve lost some players for whatever reasons, so a series win over them won’t be so significant. What is more significant is the way we’ve played test cricket for the last four years.

“It will take time for them to become a good team again and not allowing them to play test cricket won’t help them,” Ganguly said in defence of Zimbabwe’s test status.

Zimbabwe resumed on 67 for six, with Andy Blignaut joining Taibu at the crease after at Charles Coventry (24) had been dismissed with the last ball of Thursday’s play.

Blignaut was bowled by a doosra from Harbhajan for 26.

Taibu, Zimbabwe’s most reliable batsman, followed up his unbeaten 71 in the first innings with a solid 75-ball half-century.

It took him past 600 runs for the year but his 130-minute innings ended when he was caught behind off a Kumble delivery with extra bounce.

Keith Dabengwa hit three boundaries before he was trapped leg-before on 16 by another Harbhajan doosra and Zimbabwe were 138 for nine.

India’s victory was delayed, however, as the last pair, Ewing and Blessing Mahwire, hit out in a breezy 47-run partnership. Ewing was eventually trapped leg before by Harbhajan 10 minutes before lunch.

The second and final test in Harare starts on Tuesday.

India have never won a test there. They lost two matches, in 1998 and 2001, and drew the only other one played between the two sides.

“We have not won in Harare the last few times we have played there, so we are going to have to play well to win. We will need to get the best combination on the field and hope we click,” Ganguly said.

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