Statistical highlights: 2nd day at Bulawayo
Mohandas Menon
The wicket of Ganguly was Heath Streak's 150th of his Test career in his
39th match. He becomes the first Zimbabwean and the 66th bowler in Test
history to reach this landmark. Incidentally, Streak's tally of 152 wickets
was by far the maximum by a Zimbabwean bowler. Leg-spinner Paul Strang who
has 70 wickets in 23 Test matches follows Streak.
Sachin Tendulkar (74) not only recorded his highest Test score in
Zimbabwe but it was his highest in any first-class match on Zimbabwean soil.
While he bettered the 34 he made in the Harare Test match in October 1998,
his previous highest in a first-class match in Zimbabwe was the 70 he made
against the ZCU's President's XI at the Sunrise Sport Club ground at Harare
during India's last tour in 1998.
This was the 25th occasion in his career, Tendulkar has top-scored in a
Test innings. Only Sunil Gavaskar - 39 times, have achieved this on more
occasions among Indians. In fact Gavaskar has the maximum top-scores in an
innings than any other batsmen in Test history.
The partnership of 72 runs between Sameer Dighe and Harbhajan Singh was
the best for India against Zimbabwe for the eighth wicket in Test. The pair
bettered the previous best of 68 between Sanjay Manjrekar and Kiran More at
Harare in October 1992.
Playing in his only second Test match Dighe recorded his highest Test
score while obliterating the vital unbeaten 22 he made in the second innings
against Australia in the recent Chennai Test match in March. It was also the
highest by an Indian keeper against Zimbabwe bettering the 41 by Kiran More
at Harare in October 1992.
Harbhajan's 66 was by far his highest score in a Test match. He previous
highest was the unbeaten 17 made against Australia at Mumbai in March this
year. Harbhajan, now has four first-class fifties to his credit 49 matches,
with a highest of 84 he made for Punjab earlier last season.
His 66 was the fourth highest by a number nine batsman against Zimbabwe
in Test. The best still remains as 90 by New Zealander Daniel Vettori at
this same venue in September 1997. He However betters the previous highest
by an Indian batsman in the same batting position, which was the 41 by Kiran
More at Harare in October 1992.
The three catches by Guy Whittall was the maximum by a Zimbabwe fielder
in an innings against India. Likewise the three catches by Andy Flower was
also the best by a Zimbabwean wicket-keeper against India in a Test innings.
India's total of 318 was its highest in Zimbabwe bettering the 307 it
made at Harare in October 1992.
'A good spinner can get turn on any track'
Harbhajan Singh on the Zimbabwe tour, in Real Audio.
The interview was conducted in Hindi.