Warm-up tie meanders to a draw

India batted on and on and made the final day's play of the warm-up game against Zimbabwe Board XI a meaningless exercise in Mutare on Saturday.

India, resuming at 365 for 2, stretched their innings till 572 for 9 before they applied the closure at tea. It gave the tourists a lead of 278 runs.

In their second innings, Zimbabwe Board were 96 for one.

Initially the exercise was intended to give Sourav Ganguly a chance for a hit in the middle as Rahul Dravid retired at his overnight score of 102 not out.

But it became a bit of a farce after Ganguly made two and pulled out from the middle complaining of strain in his right forearm.

The Indian captain then returned at 477 for 6 and progressed to 45 with ease before his lift in the deep was gratefully accepted.

Ganguly later said that he has been having pain in his right elbow since the triangular series which preceded this game. But he intends to play the two Tests against Zimbabwe over the next two weeks before submitting himself for a scan.

It then again brought Dravid to the crease who added six runs to his total before players were called in for tea and a declaration was enforced.

In between, India suffered somewhat of a batting collapse as VVS Laxman (28), Mohammad Kaif (4) and Yuvraj Singh (1) all were out to indifferent strokes.

Two batsmen who applied and gained something out of the dreary day were Dinesh Kaarthick (40) and Anil Kumble (61).

Both were dismissed by Graeme Cremer as the leg-spinner finished with four scalps.

The hosts made 96 for 1 from 18 overs in their second outing before mercifully the match met its agonizing end.

Scorecard

Zimbabwe Board XI Ist Innings: 294 for 9 decl

India Ist Innings:
V Sehwag b Cremer                     123
G Gambhir lbw b Ireland               126
R Dravid not out                      108
VVS Laxman b Ireland                   28
S Ganguly c Duffin b Dabengwa          46
Md Kaif c Coventry b Mwayenga           4
Yuvraj Singh b W Mwayenga               1
D Kaarthick c Ebrahimm b Cremer        40
A Kumble c and b Cremer                61
Zaheer Khan c and b Cremer              2
L Balaji not out                       17

Extras (b-8, lb-4, nb-3, w-1)          16

Total (for nine decl, 134 overs)      572

Fall of wicket: 1-196, 2-325, 3-382, 4-393, 5-399, 6-477, 7-526, 8 -530, 9-564.

Bowling: Keith Mwayenga 30-4-114-2 (nb1), Allan Mwayenga 15.5-0-73-0 (nb2), Anthony Ireland 28-4-112-2 (w1), Keith Dabengwa 30-4-113-1, Graeme Cremer 30-3-148-4

Zimbabwe Board XI 2nd Innings:
B Taylor not out              36
T Duffin lbw b Balaji          0
H Masakadza not out           58

Extras (b-1, nb-1)             2

Total (for 1 wkt, 18 overs)   96

Fall of wicket: 1-2

Bowling: Zaheer Khan 6-2-22-0, Laxmipathy Balaji 5-0-33-1, Anil Kumble 3-1-9-0, Irfan Pathan 3-1-11-0, Gautam Gambir 1-0-15-0.