Jhakas | Sanjay Jha
Evenly poised, open contest, 50:50. At the end of an engrossing second day of the final third Test of the India-South Africa series, it was evident that this was going to be a pulsating encounter, not a quarter inch given or taken , an exercise in shrewd tactics, match strategy , sheer will power and above all, a tough- mind game.
It is easy to castigate the Indians for having once again blown a chance to accumulate over 450 runs, but on the flip side, barring the tail-order collapse (which has wagged fairly successfully otherwise) the Indian front-line batsmen have never looked a more determined lot in recent times. And that is reason for optimism. Continue reading below
Sachin Tendulkar looked like the master of yore, playing straight drives in the classic V, and the much missed 36th ton looked like an inevitable consequence courtesy such immaculate batsman-ship. That it took a sharp exquisite turning delivery with an aerobic bounce from Paul Harris to consume him was a trifle unfortunate. 64 vital runs, and becoming the world’s highest run getter in overseas territory ahead of the King Brian Lara will fuel further fire in Tendulkar’s hopefully unsatiated ambitions.
A badly misjudged short-pitched delivery ball hit Sourav Ganguly in a nasty blow right behind his right ear, purportedly stunning him into meek submission even before the southpaw had soaked in the soaring sight of the picturesque Table Mountain. But Ganguly played like a true pugnacious fighter, punctuating his obdurate 66 runs with trademark stylish cover drives and deft placements. This was vintage the Prince of Kolkotta, a paragon of gutsy determination, reflected in two crucial partnerships with Sachin and V Sehwag.
Sehwag, batting at an unusual no 7, seemed least tormented by all the off-field comments and commentator’s gossip on his lackluster performance so far. He played the way he knows best; brute power coupled with disciplined aggression in attitude. His 40 runs wore his arrogant stamp and ferocious intent to demolish the South African attack into soft pulp. Sehwag is back, make no mistake about it. And that is cheery news for India.
Everyone seems to believe that Anil Kumble will be India’s man on a turning track, but it is most unlikely that he his going to capture 10 wickets a-la Ferozeshah Kotla. Kumble is no Shane Warne as a ball-turner, so the pitch conditions will not naturally lead to a lop-sided advantage for him. But he is an intelligent thinking cricketer who India expects will create the breakthroughs that matter. And experience shows, that the silent assassin rarely fails to execute.
India will have to play at their best ( no dropped catches) to ensure that Graeme Smith does not lead SA into a formidable score, as both sides square up for a do or die finish in the deciding match of the series. Even Hashim Amla played like an inflexible stickler, and remained undefeated on 50 runs. Clearly, the South Africans are taking the Indian bull by its sharp horns. They are playing to win.
Which is why Day 3 will make for a great tussle in mid-field. This match will be won not by the team, which is hungrier to win. But by one that is not afraid to lose.
