Riding on V V S Laxman's superb century India hammered the hapless Zimbabwe attack to strengthen their position on the second day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, on Wednesday.
Laxman blossomed after a shaky start to end the day on 125 not out as India amassed 325 for 3, making full use of a flat batting pitch and an inexperienced Zimbabwe bowling attack
Rahul Dravid was back among the runs, scoring 77 and adding 130 runs for the third wicket with Laxman. Virender Sehwag (44) and Gautam Gambhir (46) had provided India with a blazing start, putting on a quickfire stand of 88 for the opening wicket.
All the Zimbabwe bowlers suffered, except for Blessing Mahwire, who claimed all the three Indian wickets to fall.
Earlier, Irfan Pathan led India's strong fight back with a three-wicket burst to dismiss Zimbabwe for 279 in the morning session.
Resuming on 265 for 7, Zimbabwe could only last 14 runs in 5.5 overs as Pathan finished with 5 for 58. Captain Tatenda Taibu was unbeaten on 71 as the lower order capitulated without a fight.
Morning session:
Zimbabwe innings: (5.5 overs, 14 runs, 3 wickets)
Keith Dabengwa played positively for 35, but was dismissed in the second over of the day as he edged straight to VVS Laxman at second slip off Irfan Pathan. (269-8, 94.3)
Dabengwa's 44-ball knock contained five boundaries and a six; he added 59 runs for the eighth wicket with Tatenda Taibu.
Pathan then struck off the next ball, dismissing Gavin Ewing leg before wicket. Ewing was beaten all ends up by the swing and trapped right in front of the wickets. (269-9, 94.4)
The left-arm seamer then picked his fifth wicket when he bowled Blessing Mahwire for four, leaving Taibu stranded on 71. (279-10, 98.5)
With Pathan on target, it took India just 5.5 overs to mop up the tail; a good start to the second day, unlike the first, when all the home batsmen made them work hard on a slow, dry wicket.
It was Pathan's fourth five-wicket haul in Tests and he also reached the 50-wicket milestone in his 14th Test match. The onus will now be on India to register a big first innings score and ensure that they only bat once.
India innings: (16.5 overs, 88 runs, 1 wicket)
India started straight in the fourth gear with opener Gautam Gambhir striking the very first ball for a boundary.
Virender Sehwag also started with a flurry of boundaries to give the team a flying start as India reached 50 for no loss in the 10th over.
The Zimbabwe bowlers were finding it hard to contain the Indian openers. The most experienced of them all, Heath Streak, was also being treated with disdain, as Sehwag hit him for a huge six over the square leg fence in the 13th over.
Mahwire, however, struck the crucial blow when he bowled Sehwag in the last over before lunch. The Indian opener's technique was once again exposed when he failed to read the swing and the ball crashed onto his stumps. (88-1, 16.5)
The right-hander delighted with an entertaining 44 from 48 balls, inclusive of six boundaries and a six, but yet again failed to post a big score. He added 88 for the opening wicket with Gambhir (41 not out) to give India a blazing start. It will now depend on the Indian middle order, especially the struggling Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly to take advantage of the start.
Post Lunch session: (30.1 overs, 119 runs, 1 wicket)
Dravid had a point to prove, after failing miserably with the bat in the recently concluded tri-series, where he amassed just 64 runs in 5 matches.
However, the Indian vice-captain, can take heart from the fact that he has done well against Zimbabwe in Tests. Before this, he played seven Tests against them, scoring 804 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 100.50, with three centuries.
Gautam Gambhir joined Sehwag in the pavilion when he threw his wicket away after a fine knock, edging to Brendon Taylor at first slip off Mahwire.
The left-hander looked good for a big score, but on 46, he was out, after suriving a close shave the previous delivery. (98-2, 18.5)
Dravid's first three scoring shots were boundaries, all against the error prone Andy Blignaut, who sprayed the ball all round with India racing past the 100-run mark in the 20th over.
Laxman on four nearly fell at second slip, as the ball evaded Taylor at second slip off Mahwire in the 21st over.
The scoring rate took a dip after the departure of the openers, but Dravid and Laxman, still scored at a fair rate, adding 50 runs for the third wicket at more than 3.5 runs per over, with the innings rate falling to around 4.5 runs per over.
Dravid finally had something to cheer in Zimbabwe, when he reached his half-century off 61 balls, with eight boundaries in the 28th over, with the score on 167 for 2.
Laxman, back in the Test team, after missing the ODIs, also settled down well after a nervous start. He brought up his 4000 runs in Tests with a stylish trademark flick through the midwicket off Dabengwa, which also brought up his 100-run partnership with Dravid for the third wicket in the 45th over. The Hyderabadi batsman became the 10th Indian to reach the 4000-run milestone in Test cricket.
The two batsmen looked very comfortable against the spinners -- Gawin Ewing and Dabengwa, who didn't get as much turn or bounce as Anil Kumble or Harbhajan Singh. Not having too many variations against batsmen renowned for playing the spin added to their woes on a flat, batting wicket.
At tea, India were in a commanding position having scored 207 for 2 in 47 overs. The session belonged to the two Indian batsmen, who scored runs at will, hitting 15 boundaries without having to take any risks. Dravid was unbeaten on 69, and giving him company was Laxman on 42.
Post Tea session: (35 overs, 118 runs, 1 wicket)
Laxman, playing a patient innings, reached his half-century in the final session of play off 105 balls, with five boundaries in the 53rd over with the team score on 221 for 2. Surprisingly, it was his first half-century against the minnows. It was all too easy for him and Dravid with the field spread around, as they took singles at will, while despatching the odd loose ball to the fence.
But, Dravid seemed to have been bored by the flow of things and in trying something different threw his wicket away. His dismissal was almost identical to that of Gambhir, caught at first slip by Taylor, while trying to guide the ball to third man after scoring 77. He added 130 runs for the third wicket with Laxman, who was unbeaten on 55. (228-3, 55)
His wicket brought Sourav Ganguly to crease, in what could be a break or make series for the Indian captain. Having faced criticism for his poor batting in the tri-series in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, it was an ideal opportunity for the left-hander to play a big knock.
After the dismissal of Dravid, Laxman took centrestage, stroking boundaries all over the park. Ganguly took time to get started, taking 37 balls to hit his first boundary, but the second came soon after, two balls later and thereafter he looked a bit settled. India went pass Zimbabwe's score of 279 in the 71st over, losing just three wickets in the bargain.
Laxman cruised to his first century against Zimbabwe with a sweetly timed cover drive, a trademark of his batting today. He reached the landmark off 158 balls, with 14 boundaries in the 73rd over of the innings. The right-hander took 105 balls to score his first fifty, but the next fifty came at a rapid rate in just 53 balls, and was laced with nine boundaries on both sides of the wicket.
It was an ideal way to improve upon on his not so impressive record against Zimbabwe, against whom he has not done well in the past. Before this match, Laxman had played 4 matches against Zimbabwe scoring 132 runs at a mediocre average of 26.40, with a highest score of 38.
Only two Indian batsmen have scored centuries in Zimbabwe before Dravid (118 in 1998) and Sanjay Manjrekar (104 in 1992).
India crossed the 300-run mark in the 74th over, as all their batsman made hay on a nice flat, batting pitch. Laxman seemed determined not to let the good opportunity slip as he continued piling on the runs against the hapless Zimbabwean bowlers. With his score reaching 119, he became the highest Indian scorer on Zimbabwe soil surpassing the 118 scored by Dravid at Harare, in October 1998.
He ended the day unbeaten on 125 from 186 balls, with 18 boundaries, having taken India to a commanding position, with three more days to go. Captain Ganguly, playing with the utmost care, was not out on 23 as India ended on 325 for 3 after 82 overs, an overall lead of 46 runs with seven wickets in hand.
A good morning session tomorrow with Laxman playing in the same vein should be enough for India to take a huge lead. They also have a good chance of wrapping up the match within three days, if they manage score quickly in the morning and then grab quick wickets later on.