Toss Won By: India
Batting First: Zimbabwe   Score: 252 / 9 in 50 overs
Batting Now: India Required to get 253 in 46 overs
News: Sachin is not playing in the match today more..



It is understood that Tendulkar will not be playing the upcoming match against Kenya, to be played on Sunday. But he may be available for the match against SriLanka on May 26 and against England on May 29.

It is heartening that Azharuddin employed jadeja as a change bowler in this match, and jadeja struck in the very first over, taking a wicket. In earlier matches captained by Jadeja, this enthusiastic bloke bowled with rare success. This is a new weapon in India's armoury in the World Cup campaign.

(As soon as we come to know about how many overs India will get, 46 overs or more than that, to score the required 254 runs in, we shall tell you.)

In India's first match against South Africa, Azharuddin was in good nick scoring run a ball. A captain's innings from him is the need of the hour today.

One recalls that as Indian captain, Jadeja employed Srinath successfully in the role of a pinch hitter. If Ganguly stays at the crease for long, that is good as a sheet anchor, but it sets the scoring rate back. Thus, the supplement by a pinch hitter is required.

It will be important for India, playing minus Sachin Tendulkar, not to lose early wickets. And, if the scoring rate falls, will skipper Azhar will have the imagination to send in a pinch hitter like Srinath or Agarkar to boost the run rate.

Yes, the Zimbabwe fielding is brilliant. But their bowling is uneven. If streak and brandes and strang can be played off, one can take advantage of the remaining twenty overs with attacking strokes.

Who will make the runs for India? It will require atleast two batsmen to drop anchor, maybe Ramesh, Dravid, Ganguly, or Azhar.
Then since the run rate required is quite high, some fast scoring will be required, maybe by Jadeja, robin Singh and Mongia.

At one stage it looked as if Zimbabwe would present India with a 270 runs plus target, but Kumble's brilliant bowling restricted the free flow of runs.

Should India bowl more spinners to avoid the wides and no balls? India must be very careful in future matches about wides and no balls.

As India faces this stiffish target, Sachin Tendulkar will be missed. It is he, who has been the star in chasing targets.

Kumble, Srinath and Prasad took two wickets each. Agarkar, Ganguly and Jadeja took one each.

It is now up to the Indian batsmen to chase the target.

Andy Flower, the great survivor, remained not out on 69, made off 85 balls. Good match for Mongia, four catches and one stumping.