India v New Zealand, TVS Cup, Chennai

Rain has the final word

The Wisden Bulletin by Samanth Subramanian

October 23, 2003

India 141 for 3 in 26.5 overs (Tendulkar 48*). Match abandoned due to rain
Scorecard

Sachin Tendulkar: got into gear, before the rains intervened © AFP

Although the morning of the TVS Cup opener was bright and sunny, rain was never likely to keep off for too long during Chennai's second monsoon. So even though India's batsmen started almost as if they were playing with rain-rules in mind, rain stopped play after 26.5 overs, giving India and New Zealand three points apiece from the abandoned game.

In fact, considering the conditions over the last few days, it was to the groundstaff's credit that the wicket was not only undamaged but looked full of runs. So did India's batting. As if emphatically relieved to be back into one-day mode after 10 grinding days of Test cricket, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar pulled out the hammer and tongs from their toolkits as soon as play kicked off.

The openers added 53 in the first nine overs, even though Tendulkar was clearly showing signs of lack of form, shuffling too much across his stumps and getting a few leading edges on a track that looked a touch two-paced. But there were strokes that bore his stamp of authority - a checked drive through covers off Daryl Tuffey that raced across a slow outfield, a trademark straight-drive, and a ferocious pull to square leg from almost a foot outside the off stump.

Sehwag was dropped early, when he cut Jacob Oram to third man and was put down by Chris Cairns attempting a one-handed catch. Sehwag repeated the stroke off Tuffey to get six a few overs later. He hit five fours in addition, but after pulling Cairns for four in his first over, he fell. To a ball that did not rise as much as expected, Sehwag stuck to the crease and merely hung his bat at the ball, which took the inside edge and nipped in to rattle timber (53 for 1).

But maybe the batsmen were looking for too emphatic a switch from defensive vein, for after Sehwag's dismissal, both VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid fell trying to unnecessarily force the pace. Laxman, in supreme touch, came out and displayed every inch of it. He drove through cover, whipped balls regularly from middle stump to midwicket, those elastic wrists glaringly evident. Paul Hitchcock was taken for three boundaries in a single over, and in little time, Laxman had almost caught up with Tendulkar without playing a single stroke that reeked aggression.

His first truly ambitious shot, unfortunately, brought about his dismissal. Scott Styris presented a long hop, which Laxman pounced on greedily, but he could not keep it down. Kyle Mills, the substitute fielder just in front of square on the leg side, only had to run a few yards to his left to take the catch (88 for 2). Even Styris, who grinned almost apologetically at Laxman, knew the wicket was a gift.

Dravid, who tried uncharacteristically to pull the first ball he faced, fell soon after. Daniel Vettori was brought on as soon as the 15-over field restrictions were lifted, and when Dravid tried to whip his fifth ball away through the onside, Styris at short midwicket took a good low catch (93 for 3).

India then got back on the road to recovery, with Yuvraj Singh concentrating on punishing only the short or full deliveries and letting the rest go past. Tendulkar focussed more on playing straight, but he was clearly having problems with the rapidly fading light - and said as much to the umpires - when play was stopped for the first time.

The floodlights took 15 minutes to warm up and pierce through the falling twilight, but even as another three overs played themselves out after the interruption, heavy clouds scudded over and positioned themselves above the stadium. Soon enough the heavens let rip, and although the rain occasionally abated, it continued steadily, so play was called off at 7.30pm local time. Perhaps even getting in 26.5 overs was a stroke of luck - and they were 26.5 overs brimming with excitement - but they did indicate that this tournament will feature only top-drawer cricket.

Samanth Subramanian is sub editor of Wisden Cricinfo.

© Cricinfo

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Stories

Balaji replaces Salvi

'We'll miss Astle' - Fleming

Facts and Figures

Matches

India v New Zealand at Chennai

Players/Umpires

Chris Cairns

Virender Sehwag

Sachin Tendulkar

Yuvraj Singh

Series/Tournaments

TVS Cup (India)

Teams

India

New Zealand

Grounds

MA Chidambaram Stadium