India v Zimbabwe
1st Test, Delhi, 18-22 November, 2000
INDIA WON BY 9 WICKETS

INDIA WIN IN BATTLE OF THE BATSMEN

On a belting Feroz Shah Kotla pitch it was down to who had the greater firepower in their batting line up. Zimbabwe were edged out by a stunning display from Tendulkar with a run-a-ball 39, leaving Ganguly and Dravid to bring home the winnings.

The real hero was Javagal Srinath, whose 5 for 60 in Zimbabwe's second innings (9-141 in the match) laid the match open and set a gettable target of 190 for the home side.

Andy Flower scored 270 runs before being dismissed, but it was Rahul Dravid's effortless 200* and 70* that stole the show A match that was certainly not lacking in entertainment.

After posting 422 Zimbabwe must have felt they were competing well, but the Indian maestro's were too good, Dravid and Tendulkar are almost on another plain at times and Zimbabwe's spinners, lacked the experience to make a real challenge.

India drew level with ease, and then Srinath hustled them out despite Andy Flower's defiant 70*. Chasing 190 in the fourth innings has frequently caused jitters, but those three glittering talents shone like a beacon, and showed few nerves in wrapping up the match.