Harbhajan and Dighe: A burst of runs that boosted India
There are times when the bleakest of situations are alleviated by the
most unlikely characters. When the top-order crumbled against the pace
of the Sri Lankans, the visitors were in big trouble. Only Sadagoppan
Ramesh with 47 showed any ability to stay at the wicket for a period
of time. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals with Ganguly's 18 being
the second highest score by a batsman in the top six. When Hemang
Badani was dismissed by Ruchira Perera, the Indians were in deep
trouble at 154/6. The Sri Lankans remember, had notched up a handy 274
in their first essay.
It was in these circumstances that stumper Sameer Dighe and off
spinner Harbhajan Singh came together. The Mumbaikar had shown
glimpses of his ability with the bat in the past, most notably in his
unbeaten innings of 22 in the deciding Chennai Test against Australia
and during a dashing 94 not out against West Indies in the final of the one-
day tri-series in Zimbabwe. Harbhajan Singh too is no mug with the
bat, the Punjab lad once slammed 66 against Australia in an ODI.
Playing a careful hand against the fiery pace of Dilhara Fernando,
Dighe ducked and weaved as the Lankan quick tried to blast the batsmen
out. With one person playing cautiously, it was imperative that the
other scored quickly. Harbhajan Singh took up the responsibility and
wrested the initiative from the Sri Lankans. Returning to the crease
after the tea interval, Harbhajan Singh greeted Fernando with a flurry
of boundaries that one cannot forget.
A hook, a pull, a drive through the off-side and a cut. These were
four cracking strokes that Harbhajan Singh played off consecutive
deliveries from Fernando. The style might have been unorthodox and the
shots varied but the result was the same each time a searing
boundary. With Harbhajan Singh blazing a trail of his own, Dighe did
the right thing by playing second fiddle.
In all, the pair spent exactly 10 overs together out in the middle.
The association took India from 154 to 218, an addition 64 runs off
just 60 balls. The flurry of runs put the fighting spirit back in the
Indian team and helped prop up the innings. Harbhajan Singh eventually
scored 44 and Dighe 28. For this, the Harbhajan Singh- Dighe
partnership is the 5-Star Partnership
