Statistical highlights: Day 2 at Harare
Mohandas Menon
Andy Flower reached his 8000th run of his first-class
career while playing in his 116th match since his first-class debut in
1986-87. He becomes the first Zimbabwe player to reach this landmark,
although many other former Rhodesian batsmen (before the formation of
Zimbabwe in 1980) have scored more.
Later in his innings, Flower (when on 18), reached his 1000th run in
Tests against India. Flower became the 22nd batsman to reach this landmark
against India, while playing in his just seventh Test and 13th innings. For
the record, West Indian Clive Lloyd has the maximum run aggregate of 2344
runs (avg. 58.60) in 28 matches against India.
Flower, meanwhile, missed his 10th score over fifty in the last 11
innings since September last year. Incidentally, Flower, since June 1, 2000
(against England at Nottingham), has made 15 scores above 20 in a row - the
lowest being 22 he made against New Zealand in September last at Bulawayo.
Since then he has now scored 1100 runs (avg. 84.61) in 10 Test matches, with
two hundreds and seven fifties.
Although opener Dion Ebrahim (49) missed his maiden fifty of his Test
career, he recorded his highest score. Playing in his fourth Test match and
sixth innings, he bettered his previous best of 39 he made against
Bangladesh at this same ground in April this year. Interestingly Ebrahim,
who is playing his 21st first-class match of his career since his debut in
1999-00, has still not recorded a first-class hundred. His highest
first-class score is 90.
The partnership of 87 runs between Ebrahim and Andy Flower was Zimbabwe's
best at home against India for the fourth wicket. The pair bettered the
previous best of just 26 between Kevin Arnott and Dave Houghton at this same
ground in October 1992. Zimbabwe's other large partnerships against India
for this wicket remain as 209 and 192 respectively - but both have come on
Indian soil.
Heath Streak (40, when on 11) playing in 40th Test match, became the
seventh Zimbabwean and 363rd batsman in Test history to reach the landmark
of 1000 runs. At the end of his innings he has 1029 runs to his credit.
Streak, who already has 155 Test wickets, became the 24th all-rounder to
do the double of 1000 runs and 150 wickets in Tests. Incidentally, England's
Maurice Tate became the first all-rounder to do so in 1931. He also becomes
the 36th all-rounder in Test history to do the double of 1000 runs and 100
wickets.
Grant Flower (80 not out, when on 10) became the only second batsman
after brother Andy (1090 runs in 18 matches) to reach 1000 runs at the
Harare Sports Club ground. At the end of the second day he has 1070 runs at
this venue.
The 67 run partnership between G Flower and Andy Blignaut was Zimbabwe's
best for the seventh wicket against India at home. The pair betters the
previous best of 38 between G Flower and Heath Streak at Bulawayo in the
last Test match.
Blignaut's 35 was his highest Test score in his 4th Test match. His
previous highest was the unbeaten 32 he made in the second innings of the
last Test match at Bulawayo.
This was the only second occasion Zimbabwe has taken the first innings
lead against India. The only other occasion was in the very first meeting
between the two sides in October 1992 at this same ground, when the home
side took a lead of 149 runs.