Zimbabwe's tour opener ends in a draw
Zimbabwe will go into the first cricket Test against India, starting on Thursday, with mixed feelings after the three-day match against the Board President' XI ended in a draw at the Indira Gandhi stadium in Vajayawada on Sunday.
The visitors, though happy that a few of their batsmen including Andy Flower had a decent outing in the middle, would be concerned about their bowlers' form
After Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir hit a double century on the opening day to help the home side declare at 361 for three, two makeshift openers - Orissa's Prabhanjaan Mullick and Maharastra's Abhijit Kale made their attack look pedestrian as the President's XI reached 154 for one when play ended on Sunday
With the result of the match a foregone conclusion skipper Rahul Dravid gave the two youngsters a chance to have a go at the Zimbabweans, and in the end the duo came out with flying colours, notching up impressive scores
The duo added 153 runs, with Kale outscoring his partner. Kale, who entertained the holiday crowd with his fireworks, was out for 90 (12x4, 3x6), bowled by Travis Friend. He enjoyed three lives during his innings.
Mullick, who also survived a few close calls, remained unbeaten on 62, and hit six fours and two sixes in his 120-ball knock
Local lad Venugopal Rao came one down and played through the minimum mandatory overs before play was called off with the Board eleven 175 runs ahead.
Earlier, leg spinner Amit Mishra grabbed six wickets as the visitors were all out for 340 in their first innings, 20 runs behind Board President's score of 361 for 3 declared.
At lunch, Board XI were 29 for no loss in their second knock, with Mullick batting on 13 and Kale on 16.
Resuming at their overnight score of 292 for 6, the visitors lost the vital wicket of Andy Flower, who missed his century by six runs.
Flower added just five runs to his score of 89 before he was out in the very first over of Sarandeep Singh, offering a simple catch to Mullick.
Soon after, Haryana youngster Mishra polished off the visitors' tail. First he bowled Alistair Campbell, who made 25, and then dismissed Raymond Price, who offered a return catch. Next, he sent back last-man Brighton Watabwa, to finish with a rich haul of six wickets.
Mail Cricket Editor
