Ganguly on song

Source: Mumbai Mirror     Date: December 23, 2006  

Other than Jaffer, there was really nothing to write home about other than the continuing good form of Sourav Ganguly. Back after a 10-month exile, Ganguly too continues to remain hungry for runs on this tour – remaining unbeaten on a well-measured 41 at stumps with Harbhajan Singh for company on 10.

There were the hints of the vintage Ganguly back against the spinner as he danced down the track and hit him for a straight six and a couple of one-bounce fours over the in-field. Definitely a good sign for India ahead of a tough test at Kingsmead, a ground where history has not really been on the side of the Men in Blue.

Rahul Dravid was his solid self before he retired for 38, and the only glitch in the middle-order was VVS Laxman’s dismissal for four, edging a ball to the wicketkeeper with an exceptionally out-of-character shot considering his magical 73 in the second innings at the Wanderers, where India won by 123 runs.

All in all, it was a bit of a nothing day against a nothing attack in a beautiful setting in suburban Durban. But, as Team India often does, the openers gave the powers to be enough to think about even in these mundane circumstances.


Score board

Jaffer c Gobind b Frylinck 2, Sehwag c Gobind b Mhlongo 40, Gambhir retired hurt 79, Dravid retired hurt38, Laxman c Smit b McMillan 4, Ganguly not out 41, Pathan c Singh b Serame 15, Karthik c Gobind b Frylinck 12, Kumble c & b Pillay 23, H Singh not out 10
Extras (lb-1, w-2, nb-4) 7
Total (6 wickets; 77 overs) 271
FoW: 1-23, 2-47, 3-173, 4-188, 5-205, 6-250
Bowling: U Govender 11-5-42-0, R Frylinck 16-1-44-2, S Mhlongo 9-3-18-1, Y Singh 12-1-49-0, TD Pillay 16-4-65-1, R McMillan 6-3-34-1, NM Serame 7-0-47-1