da doce： Rahul Dravid, hitherto struggling to come to terms on the pacy andbouncy Australian wickets, at last struck form on the opening day oftheir four day match between the Indian tourists and Tasmania atHobart on Friday
Partab Ramchand17-Dec-1999Rahul Dravid, hitherto struggling to come to terms on the pacy andbouncy Australian wickets, at last struck form on the opening day oftheir four day match between the Indian tourists and Tasmania atHobart on Friday. The stylish and technically proficient batsman fromKarnataka hit 107 as the Indians were 241 for six at close.The form of Dravid was not the only pleasing aspect from the Indianpoint of view. Hrishikesh Kanitkar, one of the claimants for a Testplace for the second Test in Melbourne, got a half century and shareda century stand with Dravid for the third wicket. But VVS Laxman’sfall for a duck and a middle order collapse which saw three wicketsfalling for eight runs in 4.3 overs would have been the cause of someconcern for the touring team, still in the process of getting theiract together after the first Test which was badly lost by 285 runs.Laxman, who has displayed some consistency on the tour, was out in thethird over snicking medium pacer Wright to Atkinson behind the stumpswhen the total was five. But Dravid and Sadagopan Ramesh put theinnings back on course with a second wicket stand of 50 runs from 13overs. The left handed Ramesh was the dominant partner before he wascaught by Marsh at slip off Downton for 34. Ramesh batted 70 minutes,faced 48 balls and hit three fours.Then came the best phase of the Indian innings with Dravid andKanitkar getting entrenched for an association that was to last nearlythree hours. The partnership was not broken till the two had added 114runs off 48.4 overs with some steady batting. Kanitkar was finallyleg before wicket to seamer Scott Kremerskothen for 58. The lefthander from Maharashtra faced 140 balls and hit seven of them to theropes.Vijay Bhardwaj, another claimant for a spot in the Test side, thenhelped Dravid add 58 runs for the fourth wicket off 19.2 overs. Dravidgot to three figures and at 227 for three, the Indians were wellplaced for a big total. Then Bhardwaj was run out by Miller for14. The youngster from Karnataka batted 72 minutes and faced 68 balls.Tasmania now came back strongly into the game. At 233, Dravid’sinnings finally came to an end when he also edged Wright, who wasbowling with the second new ball, to Atkinson. In many ways it was atypical Dravid innings for he batted 324 minutes, faced 257 balls andhit ten fours. In the following over, stand in skipper Saurav Ganguly(5) gave Atkinson his third catch when he snickedDownton. Wicketkeeper Nayen Mongia, playing his first match on thetour, and T Kumaran with four apiece were at the crease at stumps.For Tasmania, opening bowlers Wright and Downton took two wicketseach. Colin Miller, hoping to be recalled to the Australian side forthe second Test at Melbourne bowled 25 overs but went wicketless.