HARARE, 21 September 2005 — Irfan Pathan produced another fine display of swing bowling as India took firm control on the opening day of the second Test against Zimbabwe yesterday.
Pathan captured a career-best seven for 59, helping bowl Zimbabwe all out for 161. India went smoothly to 195 for one by stumps, with Gautam Gambhir on a classy 95 not out.
Pathan removed Brendan Taylor with the third ball of the day and then accounted for Terence Duffin (12) and Tatenda Taibu (0) in the space of three deliveries.
Zimbabwe lurched into lunch on 75 for five and Pathan claimed his fourth wicket in the second over after the break when he won an lbw decision against Hamilton Masakadza (27).
Andy Blignaut (13) was Pathan’s next scalp when he slashed outside the off stump and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthick. The left-arm paceman then wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Blessing Mahwire (1) and Keith Dabengwa (18).
India opener Gambhir batted solidly and has been at the crease for 116 balls, hitting 17 fours. Virender Sehwag displayed his full range of strokes in a cameo of 44 off 44 deliveries, striking seven boundaries.
Rahul Dravid was with Gambhir at stumps on 49 not out, an innings sprinkled with eight fours. India won the first test in the two-match series in Bulawayo by an innings and 90 runs and Pathan now has 16 wickets to his name in three innings.
The 20-year-old left-armer is already earning comparisons with Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain who stands eighth in the list of all-time wicket-takers on 414.
