Second onedayer at Harare between India&Zimbabve-A matter of test of strength for Indiatrength

The second ODI today(the 26th July2013) began disasrerously for India with the fall of 4 important wickets of Rohit Sharma,Virat Kohli,Ambati Raidu&Suresh Raina within the completion of 17 overs for a paltry score of 65 for 4. The strikers for Zimbabve were Vittori,Jarvis&Chatara who claimed 2,1&1 wickets respectively Thus as an experiment of a new strategy for Zimbabve to opt for Bowling, even after winning Toss deviating from the traditional method of batting first in a pitch which was not affected by weather,paid dividend for them initially. However,what we saw later was something cheerful for India .Dinesh Karthik joined Shikar Dhavan, the opener at the fall of wicket of Suresh Raina at b65 for 4. The two together took India to 232 for 5, a partnership of 167 runs when Dinesh Karthik lost his wicket for an individual score 69 consisting of 6 fours.The score card read 232/5As is mostly the convention in cricket,Shikar Dhavan followed his partner Karthik in the 44th over when he lost his wicket for a Glorious 116 runs which contained ELEVEN 4s&TWO 6s.Indeed a bold &fluent contribution from the master of big hits.His induction into TEAM INDIA was a bit late though the selectors opened their eyes later than never! At the fall of Dhavan,the score card read 237 for 6 wicket. In the remaining 5 overs to complete the allotted 50 overs,the batsmen AmitMishra,R.Jadeja,Mohamed Shami& R.VINAYKUMAR from Karnataka added 57 runs to make it tp a final tally of 294 for 8 wickets in allotted 50 overs. The final over in which R>VINAYAKUMAR starred fetched the highest score of 23 runs in an over in this match. R.VINAYKUMAR had smashed 2 SIXERS& 2 FOURS in the final over. The wicket of Virat Kohli the skipper had become a matter of controversy .Waller who took his catch was doubtful about it's genuin nature himself &referred to the third eye who adjudged as "OUT" .Kohli who refused to leave crease had to walk back to the pavilion muttering to himself. The Telivision display ,however, was inconclusive partially favouring the Batsman.It looked as if the benefit of doubt could have been afforded to the batsman. The Zibabve innings in reply was not anything less than India & began with a bang.Zimbabve collected 109 runs fromjust 20 overs resulting in shivers in Team India.Anxiety entered into the hearts of Team India&many Indians watching live on the ground as well as glued to TV sets all over India&abroad. But Alas! The 21st over produced relief to the Indians without allowing their anxiety &grief to last any longer! Both Sibanda,the opener&hero of the day for Zimbabve for the day,&Captain Tailor(one of the finest batsman for Zimbabve)removed by J.D.Unadkat the former caught by Mishra &the later 'run out" by executing a fine throw. Later on Utseya with a half century,Masakadza&Chigambura tried their level best to find home but ended in disappointment. Finally Zimbabve finished their innings at 236 for 9 wickets thereby extending yet another win for Team India by a reasonable margin of 58 runs.India now lead 2-0 in the series. SreedharanMundanat Friday, July 26 2013 20-557 hrs(IST)