Zimbabwe Select v India A, Harare, 1st day

Uthappa leads India A's assault

Cricinfo staff

July 25, 2007

India A 331 for 5 (Uthappa 88, Patel 67, Sharma 65, Kaif 63) v Zimbabwe Select

Four internationals helped themselves to half centuries as India A ended the opening day against Zimbabwe Select at the Harare Sports Club on 331 for 5. Mohammad Kaif won the toss and his batsmen, led by Robin Uthappa's characteristic 88 off 85 balls, made largely untroubled progress.

Uthappa and his opening partner Cheteshwar Pujara got off to a brisk start, adding 56 before Pujara fell for 9, edging to the slips. Parthiv Patel, coming in at No.3, made 67 and was involved in two half century stands. He added 77 and 68 with Uthappa and Kaif respectively, strengthening India's position. After his departure, Kaif (63) and Rohit Sharma (65) scored patient half centuries but they too failed to convert their scores to three figures. S Badrinath, the Tamil Nadu middle-order batsman, was undefeated on 24 at the close.

Chandrakanth Pandit, the coach, said he was satisfied with the number of fruitful partnerships. He also praised Uthappa for his aggressive knock. "They all batted extremely well and dominated the fast bowlers," Pandit told the Hindustan Times. "The only thing I thought could have gone better was that if one or all of them had gone on to get hundreds."

© Cricinfo

	Email

NEW FANTASY: India v Australia Test series - prizes to be won Enter now - series starts October 9     Watch our daily Cricinfo SportsCenter news round-ups Available on Cricinfo.tv     Live scores, news & ball-by-ball commentary on your phone Cricinfo Mobile

Stories

Chawla bowls India A to big win

Taibu century fails to avert follow-on

Zimbabwe wobble after India's tail wags

Matches

Zimbabwe Select XI v India A at Harare

Players/Umpires

Mohammad Kaif

Chandrakant Pandit

Parthiv Patel

Rohit Sharma

Robin Uthappa

Series/Tournaments

India A tour of Zimbabwe

Teams

India

Zimbabwe