All posts by n8rngtd.top

ND stay top despite loss to Wellington

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A review of the third round of games in the 2009-10 Plunket Shield

Cricinfo staff27-Nov-2009Northern Districts (ND) held on to top spot, despite a 38-run defeat to Wellington in the lone third-round result of the Plunket Shield in Hamilton. ND’s hopes of a third straight win were dashed by a tremendous fightback orchestrated by Luke Woodcock and Joe Austin-Smellie who struck nineties to rescue Wellington from 33 for 5 in their second innings. Their seventh-wicket stand of 129 was instrumental in setting ND 287 to win, which they failed to overhaul on the last day. Bradley-John Watling’s fighting 90 was not supported by the rest of the line-up, which crumbled in the face of incisive bowling from Jeetan Patel and Dewayne Bowden.Victory would have been the last thing on Wellington’s mind when Tim Southee wrecked their first innings, finishing with extraordinary figures of 25-12-27-8. However, Cameron Merchant, Josh Brodie and Woodcock scored useful fifties to take Wellington to a respectable 263. ND were in early trouble against Andy McKay’s left-arm pace before Peter McGlashan and Joseph Yovich scored eighties to secure a lead, while Jeetan Patel accounted for the tail. Brent Arnel took over the responsibility of tormenting Wellington in the second innings, picking four of the first five wickets to fall before Woodcock and Austin-Smellie began the turnaround. Arnel completed his five-for, dismissing Austin-Smellie three short of a 100, but not before Wellington had managed a winning score.Opening bowlers Ewen Thompson and Michael Mason raised hopes of a spectacular come-from-behind victory for Central Districts (CD) before Otago held on for a draw in Napier. Otago would not have expected to bat again after piling on 534 in their first innings and then inflicting the follow-on. Otago’s effort was driven by a partnership of 206 between Shaun Haig and Neil Broom for the fourth wicket. Haig was dismissed for 153, before Broom fell four short of a double hundred. Thompson’s five-wicket haul was the lone bright spot for CD whose meek first-innings response would have been disastrous if not for a belligerent 71 from tailender Seth Rance that took them to 190. Medium-pacer Sam Wells claimed a five-for to put Otago in sight of an innings victory, before CD rose from the ashes.Their second-innings revival was anchored by opener Peter Ingram’s 135, and supported by handy contributions from Timothy Weston, Brad Patton and Bevan Griggs. CD went on to avoid an innings defeat and finished 173 runs ahead. Otago then survived some anxious moments against Thompson and Mason, losing wickets at regular intervals – eight in all – before the lack of time robbed the game of a decisive result.Meanwhile, Canterbury and Auckland played out a less dramatic draw in Christchurch. Hundreds for Michael Papps, Johann Myburgh and Chris Harris ensured that Canterbury piled up 540 in their first innings. Auckland’s reply was based on a 100-run third-wicket stand between Ravi Bopara and Scott Styris. Styris went on to make three figures, while Bopara missed out by ten runs. In an effort to make a game out of it, Auckland declared their first innings despite being 148 runs in arrears with three wickets remaining. Canterbury responded with 133 for 1 before declaring, setting Auckland a sporting target of 282 on the last day. Auckland began positively, with openers Richard Jones and Bopara adding 77 in quick time, but switched into a safety-first mode after losing four wickets for 17 runs. Styris and Reece Young ensured there were no more jitters, taking them to 160 before play was called off.

Teams Mat Won Lost Tied Draw Aban Pts Quotient For Against
Northern Districts 3 2 1 0 0 0 18 1.429 1360/41 1393/60
Wellington 3 2 0 0 1 0 14 1.135 1679/55 1479/55
Canterbury 3 1 0 0 2 0 12 1.344 1791/42 1618/51
Otago 3 0 2 0 1 0 2 0.735 1679/56 1835/45
Central Districts 3 0 1 0 2 0 2 0.730 1529/49 1710/40
Auckland 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0.813 1724/43 1727/35

Karachi Whites well placed to take lead

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A summary of the first day’s play of the tenth round of games in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

Cricinfo staff09-Dec-2009

Group A

Water and Power Development Authority‘s bowlers made the most of a curtailed day in Islamabad, reducing Pakistan Customs to 120 for 8 in 34.3 overs. The new-ball bowlers, Sarfraz Ahmed and Azharullah, did most of the damage, taking 3 for 28 and 4 for 51 respectively. Tahir Mughal, who was unbeaten on 24, was the only Pakistan Customs batsman to pass 20.Karachi Whites bowlers dismissed National Bank of Pakistan cheaply on the opening day in Karachi, leaving their team well placed to take a first-innings lead. Their new-ball pairing of Zohaib Shera and Tabish Khan took five wickets between and NBP never got a partnership going as they folded for 198. Qaiser Abbas’ 50 was the top score in their innings. Karachi’s openers added 49 before they lost two wickets in the space of five runs. Mohtashim Ali and Fazal Subhan steered the team to 98 for 2 at close.Khan Research Laboratories‘s bowlers made good use of the 33 overs possible on the first day against Sui Southern Gas Corporation, reducing them to 102 for 4 in Rawalpindi. New-ball bowler Yasir Ali took 2 for 27 while Akhtar Ayub and Ali Khan took a wicket each. SSGC opener Imran Abbas also had to retire hurt on 8.It was slow going on the opening day at the Gaddafi Stadium, with Lahore Shalimar scoring 124 in 53 overs and losing four wickets against Pakistan International Airlines. Mohammad Saad top scored with an unbeaten 43 that took 144 balls while Abid Ali made 31.The first day of the match between Sui Northern Gas Pipelines and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited was limited to only 16 overs at the Jinnah Stadium. And during that time, ZTBL’s bowlers claimed three wickets for 65 runs while one of the SNGPL openers, Naeemuddin, had to retire hurt. Mohammad Khalil and Azhar Attari bowled eight overs each and took 2 for 28 and 1 for 32.

Group B

Only 19 overs were possible on the first day in Islamabad but, during that period, Abbottabad’s new-ball attack reduced Rawalpindi to 69 for 5. The openers reached their twenties and added 43 before Junaid Khan dismissed both in quick succession. Junaid also dismissed No. 4 batsman Usman Saeed for a duck while Armaghan Elahi picked up the two other wickets.A brisk century from Mohammad Ayub helped Sialkot end the first day against Hyderabad on 357 for 5 at the Niaz Stadium. Ayub scored 142 off 182 balls, hitting 18 fours and two sixes, and had a 164-run stand with Faisal Khan for the third wicket. Faisal missed his century, falling to Faisal Athar for 90, and Athar also dismissed Aamer Gulzar for a duck. Ayub steadied the innings by adding another 99 runs with Mohammad Saeed before he was bowled by Mir Ali.Karachi Blues opener Shahzaib Hasan scored a century but the rest of the batsmen failed to support him and the team was reduced to 261 for 8 by Quetta at the National Stadium. Hasan scored a rapid 119 off 101 balls, with 13 fours and three sixes, but the only other batsmen to pass 20 were Khalid Latif and Ali Asad. Karachi went from 167 for no loss to 257 for 8, Nazar Hussain and Arun Lal taking three wickets each for Quetta while Arshad Khan took 2 for 61.Peshawar captain Sajjad Ahmed remained unbeaten on 58 as the rest of his top-order batsmen struggled against Lahore Ravi in Lahore. Peshawar had slipped to 70 for 5 before Ahmed steadied the innings with wicketkeeper Kashif Latif who remained unbeaten on 35. Aamer Hayat took 2 for 34 as Peshawar ended the day on 160 for 5.An unbeaten hundred from Naved Yasin, and half-centuries from Gulraiz Sadaf and Mohammad Ali, led Multan to 308 for 7 on the opening day against Islamabad at the Multan Cricket Ground. Multan’s innings had got off to a terrible start when Nasrullah Khan dismissed Abdur Rehman and Rameez Alam with the score on 0. Sadaf and Shahid Abbasi, who made 39, then added 91 for the third wicket before Sadaf had a 110-run association with Yasin. Sadaf was dismissed for 85 but the innings was given another lift by Ali, whose 59 came off 78 balls.

Ponting needs bigger role in team's behaviour

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Mark Taylor believes Ricky Ponting has to do more to stop Australia’s on-field exchanges escalating into significant incidents

Cricinfo staff27-Dec-2009Mark Taylor believes Ricky Ponting has to do more to stop Australia’s on-field exchanges escalating into significant incidents and has called for all players to follow the spirit of cricket. In the final two Tests against West Indies the hosts had four players reported, with Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson fined for their indiscretions.The spate of incidents has led to the “ugly Aussies” tag being dusted off and Taylor, a former Test leader, said it was important for a captain to know when the players were close to crossing the line. “I just think the Australians could be a bit more pro-active in trying to nip these things in the bud, rather than letting things escalate,” Taylor said in the Sunday Herald Sun. “To be fair to Ricky, it’s not always easy.”It can be hard to control a situation if you’re not out in the middle and two of your batsmen are in the heat of battle. But as a captain, you have to make an honest appraisal of whether your players are close to crossing the line.”Taylor, a Cricket Australia director, said as captain it was important to “think a bit from the opposition’s point of view – not just your own”. “We saw a couple of incidents in Perth and they weren’t great,” Taylor said. “The Watson appeal I just thought was a bad look for the game. It was embarrassing for all concerned.”Sometimes there can be a decision where someone feels robbed and it can escalate pretty quickly, but that’s where, as a cricketer, you need to keep your head and accept there are ways in which you can’t react. It’s incumbent upon all sides to play within the spirit of cricket.”Watson was fined for his excessive celebration after dismissing Chris Gayle in Perth while Haddin and Johnson also received small penalties for their involvement in a lengthy exchange with Sulieman Benn, who was suspended for two ODIs. Doug Bollinger escaped with a reprimand in the second Test in Adelaide.

Australia ride to safety on Ponting and Clarke tons

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On the day when he was voted the world’s best cricketer of the past ten years, Ricky Ponting showed his use-by date didn’t arrive with the end of the decade

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale at Bellerive Oval13-Jan-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRicky Ponting’s 39th Test century put Australia in a powerful position•Getty Images

On the day when he was voted the world’s best cricketer of the past ten years, Ricky Ponting showed his use-by date didn’t arrive with the end of the decade. Ponting and Michael Clarke each scored centuries in a merciless 231-run partnership that left Pakistan dejected, bereft of ideas, and rueful of yet another dropped catch that took their tally to 14 for the series.In Sydney, Ponting was caught for a duck in the first innings when he hooked straight to the man on the boundary and this time, again without scoring, he whipped a Mohammad Asif bouncer from in front of his eyebrows straight to the man at deep backward square leg. Mohammad Aamer didn’t have to move a single step but grassed the chance, slumping on the ground in dismay at his error.Teams know that if they miss a chance to get rid of Ponting, they may not get another. And after Australia were 3 for 71 in the opening session, the bright start that Pakistan’s seamers made after a third lost toss for the series was wasted. Soon, Mohammad Yousuf’s defensive fields crept back in, Pakistani shoulders slumped and by the final hour, the bowlers were interested only in stopping runs with a wide-outside-off line.But while Pakistan contributed to their own disappointment, Australia’s captain and vice-captain deserve high praise for their concentration and determination to reach 3 for 302 at stumps with Ponting on 137 and Clarke on 111. Both men entered the match hoping to turn around personally fruitless summers: Clarke needed to show that he could return to his Ashes form and Ponting required a big knock to avoid his least productive home Test summer in a decade.Ponting was scrappy early. His ears have been ringing over his favourite hook and pull shots, which he has struggled to middle in recent times, and today they were pounding in pain when he misjudged a hook off Umar Gul and was hit on the helmet. Several other horizontal-bat shots were missed or edged but he didn’t put the shot away and after reaching his half-century nailed a beautiful pull for four off Gul.Gradually, the Ponting trademarks returned: a textbook back-foot drive through point, a cover-drive on the up to the boundary, an aerial loft off the legspinner Danish Kaneria. His 39th Test century and his second at his home ground in Hobart arrived with a paddle sweep for two. Ponting’s celebrations were serious and focused: a kiss of the helmet and a bat pointed at the stands, and not much of a smile. It was his first hundred since the opening Ashes Test and it silenced any growing concerns over his form.At the other end, Clarke was watchful early but never looked scratchy. He has made several starts this summer without going on, but in concert with his captain he was keen to ensure a fine finale to the home Test season. Clarke drove and cut with aplomb, and in typical style used his feet brilliantly to Kaneria, who looked all out of sorts and rarely appeared likely to get a wicket. Clarke’s 13th Test ton came with a quick single clipped off his pads from his 188th delivery.Unlike Ponting, Clarke didn’t give a chance and their wonderful partnership was their highest stand together at Test level, beating the 210 runs they put on against India in Adelaide two seasons ago, and Australia’s highest fourth-wicket effort against Pakistan. They were a major frustration for Yousuf’s men, who had shown a real spark in the first session. The match started in overcast, swing-friendly conditions and Asif in particular was a regular threat in the first couple of hours.He ended Simon Katich’s return to the Test side early with a lovely ball that pitched in line, straightened, and had the batsman trapped lbw on review for 11. Four changes to the team helped freshen things up and the debutant wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who replaced Kamran Akmal, pouched his first Test catch when Aamer drew an edge behind from Michael Hussey on 6. But sometimes, the more things change the more they stay the same and Pakistan’s fielding remained poor overall.On top of Aamer’s drop of Ponting, Asif saw another opportunity evade his fielders when Shane Watson top-edged an attempted pull. Khurram Manzoor, another of the new men for this Test, and Imran Farhat ran back from the cordon but managed to collide with each other and miss the ball completely. Fortunately for Pakistan, that mistake wasn’t crucial and Watson departed soon afterwards for 29 when he cut Gul straight to gully, where Farhat took the catch.But the fielding degenerated again after lunch and misfields galore contributed to Pakistan’s disheartenment. Ponting and Clarke don’t need to be given such liberties.

Kings XI Punjab denies selling stake to Hero Honda

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Reports of a move by IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab to sell its stake to Hero Honda have been denied by both parties

Cricinfo staff10-Feb-2010Reports of a move by IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab to sell its stake to Hero Honda have been denied by both parties. The development, reported by CNN-IBN and other news outlets, suggested the franchise would be sold for $260 million and an announcement was in the offing. However, both parties have subsequently issued denials of any such deal.Punjab was purchased by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta and businessmen Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman and Karan Paul for $76 million in 2008. Burman told the television channel that there were no plans to sell in the near future.Hero Honda, the world’s second-larget manufacturer of two-wheelers, also issued a statement denying the reports. “The current media reports about Hero Honda buying stake in Kings XI Punjab is completely baseless and untrue. We have not had any discussion in this regard either,” it said. “Hero Honda’s association with IPL as an associate sponsor and the main team sponsor of Delhi Daredevils remains unchanged.”

Trott and Prior find form for England

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Jonathan Trott eased to a trouble-free century as England finetuned their preparations for next week’s first Test on a sleepy second day in Chittagong

Andrew Miller in Chittagong08-Mar-2010Close Bangladesh A 202 (Raqibul 107* Tredwell 6-95) and 131 for 3 ( Raqibul 50* Tredwell 2-50) lead England XI 281 for 7 dec (Trott 101, Prior 73*) by 52 runs

ScorecardJonathan Trott’s hundred was the highlight of a quiet second day at Chittagong•Getty Images

Jonathan Trott eased to a trouble-free century in his first batting opportunity of England’s tour of Bangladesh, while Matt Prior chipped in with a quickfire 73 not out, as England finetuned their preparations for next week’s first Test on a sleepy second day in Chittagong.In humid conditions, but against a lacklustre Bangladesh A attack whose request to replace the injured Syed Rasel, who has a shoulder problem, with Mahbubul Alam rendered the first-class status of the contest null and void, Trott added 69 runs to his overnight 32, before retiring after reaching three figures in the first over after lunch. By the close, Bangladesh A had reached 131 for 3 in their second innings, a lead of 52, with James Tredwell adding two more victims to take his match tally to eight.If Tredwell and Trott were slightly miffed by the removal of their efforts from the record-books, then neither man showed it in a disciplined day’s work, as indeed did Bangladesh’s Raqibul Hasan, who followed up his excellent first-innings hundred with another sterling performance. He finished the day on 50 not out from 96 balls, and demonstrated his growing confidence by smacking Tredwell for consecutive sixes in the final half-hour, before easing to his fifty in the penultimate over of the day.Alongside him at the close was the ever-scrutinised Mohammad Ashraful, whose form in the past fortnight has been nothing short of woeful, with 22 runs in five innings, including three ducks. But today he came out with his aggressive persona in place, taking the attack to Tredwell with two hearty mows for four. In surviving to the close on 14 not out, he gave himself a late shot at redemption, with the Bangladesh squad for the Test series yet to be announced.One man who will definitely feature at Chittagong is Trott. Having missed the ODI series to accommodate Craig Kieswetter, and with his Test form under scrutiny after an anxiety-laden tour of South Africa, his response was timely to say the least. The bulk of his runs came in partnership with Ian Bell, with whom he added 96 for the fourth wicket before Mehrab Hossain Jr popped up with his left-arm spin, just as he had done against Kevin Pietersen on the first evening, and extracted an lbw verdict as Bell, on 48, shaped to flick the ball through midwicket. After the break, the cudgels were picked up by Prior, who clipped along to a 48-ball half-century, as England declared on 281 for 7.In front of the smallest crowd of any day of the England tour to date, and against an attack that looked distinctly lacking in any genuine quality, time in the middle was the only real benefit on offer ahead of next week’s first Test, and Trott certainly seized that, as he extended his stay to 134 balls, with his only real moment of alarm coming on 42, when Dollar Mahmud was denied a loud shout for lbw.When Trott resumed on his overnight 32, he was under the impression that the game was still first-class, but with the blessing of the England management, Mahbubul was introduced to the attack as a direct replacement for the injured Rasel, and hence Trott was denied his 21st first-class century (and Raqibul his third). Andy Flower’s stated preference is for 11 v 11 contests in such fixtures, but when Steve Davies came out to keep wicket for England to give Prior a rest after his innings, the pretence of competitiveness finally vanished from the game.Nevertheless, the Bangladesh A bowlers did keep plugging away, with Mahbubul claiming two scalps, first when Tim Bresnan chopped loosely to Raqibul at backward-point for 9, and then when Tredwell was caught behind for a duck. Prior, however, showed nimble footwork and an eye for the gap to rush to 73 not out from 71 balls, and confirm his readiness for the fast-approaching first Test.Bangladesh A’s reply started positively, as Junaid Siddique and Shamsur Rahman negotiated 11 overs before tea without fuss, but after the break, Tredwell returned to the fore. First to go was Shamsur, who edged to Davies for 23, and two overs later, Mehrab edged low to Alastair Cook at slip for 4. Pietersen’s part-time offspin then extracted Junaid for 37, but Raqibul and Ashraful, who could yet feature in Bangladesh’s middle-order next week, batted through to the close with no alarms.

Kings XI Punjab sign on Rusty Theron

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Rusty Theron, the South African fast bowler, has signed up with Kings XI Punjab for the third season of the IPL

Cricinfo staff12-Mar-2010Juan ‘Rusty’ Theron, the South African fast bowler, has signed up with Kings XI Punjab for the third season of the IPL. The right-arm seamer was in top form in the MTN40 domestic one-day series, leading the Warriors to the title with a tournament-high 21 wickets at 18.80, and backed that up with a solid Pro20 series.Theron, 24, hasn’t played internationals yet, but was named in South Africa’s preliminary 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean starting April 30. He will fly out to India to join his Punjab team-mates after taking part in Friday’s Pro20 final against Lions, who also have IPL-bound players in Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher.Punjab need fast-bowling cover since two of their overseas quicks, Australian Brett Lee and West Indian Jerome Taylor, are injured, with Taylor out for the entire season. Their bowling depth is depleted further by the fitness concerns of Indian allrounder Irfan Pathan.

IPL would have benefited England bowlers – Pietersen

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The England batsman has said his national team-mates, particularly the bowlers, may have made a mistake by skipping the IPL

Cricinfo staff14-Apr-2010England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said his national team-mates, particularly the bowlers, may have made a mistake by skipping the IPL to preserve themselves for future assignments. Pietersen, who is in India to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore, felt the IPL was a good platform to pick up the basics of the Twenty20 game and perfect one’s skills ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, which immediately follows the IPL.Besides Pietersen, the other England participants include Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Michael Lumb, Owais Shah and Graham Napier. Allrounder Dimitri Mascarenhas played at the start of the tournament but suffered an injury and flew back home. Two of England’s leading fast bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, announced their unavailability in December.”As far as English cricket is concerned the good thing is that myself, Colly [Paul Collingwood] and Morgan are out here and can take the knowledge of playing in the IPL back to the England dressing room,” Pietersen said. “It is very disappointing for us that bowlers are not here.”I spoke to Colly last week when we played Delhi and we agreed it would help for our bowlers to be out here learning about the game. The difficulty in England is that when the IPL came around it was all about money, money, money, but it has actually gone on to be a world-class tournament and we have missed the boat. The guys should put their names in the hat and find a way into this set-up because they can only get better by playing out here.”England have performed poorly in the two editions of the World Twenty20, failing to reach the semi-finals in both. He felt the players will only get better with experience. “The more you play the better you become, so for us all to be available for the full six weeks of the IPL, like most of the other countries, would be really good,” Pietersen added.The most impressive of the English players happens to be his Hampshire team-mate and attacking opening batsman, Lumb. The left-hander with the Rajasthan Royals is also part of the World Twenty20 squad. He cemented his place in the XI from the beginning but the rest, including Pietersen, aren’t certainties partly because they joined their franchises late owing to their commitments in Bangladesh.”I am not surprised he [Lumb] has done well,” Pietersen said. “He has been really good at this form of the game in the way he has excelled at getting good starts. The difference is, he now he finishes the job.”

Luke Evans returns to Durham

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Luke Evans, Northamptonshire’s on-loan seamer has been recalled to his main county Durham, two weeks into a 28-day spell on loa

Cricinfo staff30-Apr-2010Luke Evans, Northamptonshire’s on-loan seamer has been recalled to his main county Durham, two weeks into a 28-day spell on loan.Evans was called back to the north east by Geoff Cook, the Durham coach, after making two Championship appearances for Northants. During his time at Northants, the 22-year-old seamer took five wickets including a best of 3-53 against Gloucestershire.In the meantime Durham have been struck by injuries to key pacemen Steve Harmison and Graham Onions. In their absence Durham have failed to be the potent force of the last two seasons, and watched Yorkshire rack up 610 for 6 in their recent Championship match at Headingley.Evans said he enjoyed his time with Northants but is looking forward to performing for his home county. “The lads have been fantastic and it’s been really easy to fit in here. The environment has been superb. Although my time here has been brief, I’ve learnt a lot. I’m a bit shocked at what’s happening. Plans have changed very quickly. Maybe one day I can return and do a job for Northants, but for now I have to focus on Durham.””When I first came down, I was aware that Northants was a great club. There is a good connection between Durham and Northants and I hope my time here has helped strengthen that relationship.”

Clinical Zimbabwe crush India and get bonus point

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Just to prove that their first win over India wasn’t an upset at all, Zimbabwe won even more convincingly – with a bonus point this time, making their qualification for the final a distinct possibility

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga03-Jun-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
M Vijay consumed 56 balls for his 21 before being stumped•DESMOND KWANDE/AFP

Just to prove that their first win over India wasn’t an upset, Zimbabwe won even more convincingly – with a bonus point this time, making their qualification for the final a distinct possibility. A combination of disciplined bowling and fielding, and directionless batting from India, meant Zimbabwe were chasing an ordinary total. Just to show the pitch had no demons that could justify a total of 194, Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza punished the bowlers, adding 128 runs in 26.3 overs.The pitch wasn’t exceptionally slow nor did it have much movement. Even without a specialist new-ball bowler, Zimbabwe choked India’s scoring, and kept getting regular wickets. India didn’t help themselves with a 1980s-style opening that was lacking in intent, followed by the quick departure of the openers, and then the run-outs of two of their mainstays, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina.Zimbabwe’s attack might be built on four spinners and a military-medium bowler, but they were as aggressive as fast bowlers – in intent, in field placings and in body language. Greg Lamb, who bowled a fine mixture of offbreaks and floaters that went straight on, was the pick of the bowlers with the wickets of the openers in back-to-back overs after they had consumed almost 19 overs for 63 runs. There were 182 dot balls in the innings, and just 12 boundaries – that too thanks to some late hitting from Ravindra Jadeja, who escaped two plumb lbws before going on to score 51.It was a strange ceasefire at the top of the innings: India kept waiting for poor deliveries, Zimbabwe for loose shots. Andy Blignaut and Ray Price, the opening bowlers, gave no free scoring opportunities but Dinesh Karthik and M Vijay sought no adventure. Only 26 runs came in the first 10 overs, five of them in wides, as the bowlers consciously tried to cut out shots through the off side and ended up bowling down the leg side.Both batsmen had put themselves under pressure with that slow start, making it imperative to not get out after wasting so many overs. And get out they did, following each other to the pavilion. If Karthik got too adventurous with a reverse-sweep, Vijay charged at Lamb and fell to a floater that went straight as opposed to breaking in. While it was smart bowling, it could also be argued that Lamb had been bowling straighter ones throughout his spell, and it wasn’t as big a variation as the sight of Vijay swinging way inside its line suggested.Zimbabwe were not going to let India’s middle order play the game of four singles an over followed by a late assault. In as late as the 23th over, they had six men inside the circle, and the slip hardly ever moved out. Virat Kohli soon fell to a straighter one from Prosper Utseya. Raina, an over after a misunderstanding with Rohit, went for a single that wasn’t there, and paid the price. Soon Rohit went for a tight single but Jadeja lacked the urgency, sending him back straight to the pavilion. Fifty-eight for 0 after 16 overs was good enough for Zimbabwe, 95 for 5 was a dream.Jadeja got favours from umpires at either end even before he was set, but Yusuf Pathan wasn’t so lucky. And despite a 35-run batting Powerplay, India had hardly given their bowlers anything to defend.And the bowlers again failed to impress. Despite a slow start, thanks to the move of opening with Pragyan Ojha, Zimbabwe raced to 76 by the end of 15 overs. Once again it was Taylor who started the assault. After four quiet overs, he punched Ashok Dinda on the up, square of the wicket, and suddenly it seemed strokeplay was not that difficult at all. Masakadza followed lead, charging at Ojha and lofting him over mid-on.In the next two overs, Dinda and Umesh Yadav tried to intimidate Taylor, and were pulled for a four and a six. There was time for a stylish extra-cover drive too, and Masakadza got his own back at Amit Mishra by welcoming him with two fours in his first over. In the previous match, Mishra had done the batsmen in with a googly. And as soon as the fielding restrictions were lifted, India inexplicably spread the field. Wisdom, conventional or otherwise, would suggest an attacking approach.By the time India realised they needed to attack, Taylor had reached his fifty, Zimbabwe had crossed 100, and India’s first set of consecutive losses to Zimbabwe was all but sealed. In the second match of the tournament, when India were on their way to chasing Sri Lanka’s target, Virat Kohli and Rohit gestured to the dressing room, wanting to take the Powerplay. They were not allowed to. Zimbabwe, though, showed much more clarity of thought, imposing the field restrictions in the 31st over, and finished the game off with 11.4 overs to spare.