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Delhi
18 - 22 November 2000
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat. This did not look the best option as soon afterwards they had lost two wickets with only 15 runs on the board. However, that was the extent of their loss during the session as the batsmen took the score to 2 for 62 by lunch. Zimbabwe continued to improve their position after lunch, however India struck back again to see the visitors 5 for 155 before Zimbabwe again recovered to end the day at 5 for 232.
India again claimed two wickets in the morning session and restricted Zimbabwe to 7 for 299 at lunch. However, Zimbabwe continued batting through the rest of the day declaring at 9 for 422 shortly before stumps. Their cause was clearly aided by the Indian decision to filed only four bowlers in their side. Top scorer for Zimbabwe was Andy Flower with 183 while Srinath was the best of the Indian bowlers with 4 for 81 off 35 overs. India batted out the remaining 7 overs to be 9 without loss at stumps.
On the third morning, India started to swing the match toward their favour. They moved the total to 100 before lunch for the loss of only one wicket and then lost only one more wicket in the afternoon session while adding another 78 runs. Zimbabwe failed to make a breakthrough during the evening session as Dravid (118*) and Tendulkar (70*) were scoring freely and the total moved to 2 for 275 - needing another 147 runs to wipe away the first innings deficit.
Zimbabwe struck on the fourth morning to dismiss Tendulkar, but not before he had added 117 to the total. This was their only success as India went to the break at 3 for 337. However, India moved to 5 for 458 in the afternoon session on the back of an even double century by Dravid when they declared with a lead of 36 runs. Olonga was the best of the bowlers with 2 for 79 off 20 overs. India then started tearing through the Zimbabwe batsmen sending both openers back to the pavilion with ducks. They ended the days play with the score on 5 for 119 and a Zimbabwian lead of 83 runs going into the final day's play.
Zimbabwe was given a few chances on the final day as a number of chances went to ground. They took advantage of these opportunities, but India still took three wickets in the session while the score moved on to 8 for 207 at lunch and a lead of 171. At this Zimbabwe would have been looking at the required run rate for India over the lunch break and occupying the crease for as long into the afternoon as possible. The final two wickets lasted just under an hour after lunch when the final wicket fell when the total was 225. Andy Flower (70) again top scored for Zimbabwe while man of the match Srinath took 5 for 60 off 24.1 overs to be the most successful Indian bowler. This left India to get 190 runs in 47 overs. After losing their first two wickets for 15 runs, Dravid (70*), Tendulkar and Ganguly snuffed out the Zimbabwian challenge giving India a victory by 7 wickets with 10 overs to spare.
Second Test
Nagpur
25 - 29 November 2000
India won the toss and elected to bat first. Zimbabwe claimed only one wicket in the morning session when they ran out Ramesh and India went to lunch at 1 for 91. India then claimed the ascendancy in the afternoon session moving to 1 for 221 at the tea break. Zimbabwe struck back in the evening session to claim Das (110). However, both Dravid and Tendulkar seem set for a long innings and the Indians were 2 for 306 at stumps.
On the second morning, India resumed where they had left off and continued to hold Zimbabwe at bay for a second successive session. During the morning, both Dravid and Tendulkar brought up their centuries and at lunch, India was 2 for 463. After the lunch break the flow of the game changed. Zimbabwe struck twice, dismissing Dravid (162) and Ganguly (30) while Tendulkar continued toward piling on the runs. At tea, India were 4 for 546. Zimbabwe had gained some momentum and dismissed two more batsmen before Tendulkar (201*) brought up his second double ton in test and the innings was declared closed at 6 for 609. Murphy (2 for 175 off 40.5 overs) and Grant Flower (2 for 101 off 24 overs shared the bowling honours. Zimbabwe then faced 18 overs and lost one wicket for 59 at stumps.
Zimbabwe batted through the first session of the third day with the only loss being Carlisle (51) to be 2 for 153 at lunch. India struck back after lunch to claim two more wickets including Whittall (84) as Zimbabwe were set back on their heels at 4 for 166. However, the Flower brothers managed to get through to tea with the score 4 for 231 and the follow on target looking achievable. India claimed Andy Flower (55) and Viljoen in the evening session as Zimbabwe crept closer to the follow on target of 410. At stumps, Zimbabwe were 6 for 359 needing only 51 runs to avoid the follow on and giving them a good chance of making a draw.
India assumed the ascendancy on the fourth day wrapping up the final four wickets for 23 runs before the first drinks break - 28 runs short of avoiding the follow on target. Grant Flower top scored with an undefeated 106 while Srinath was the most successful bowler with 3 for 81 off 28.1 overs. Ganguly asked Zimbabwe to bat again and at lunch they were 1 for 44. India struck twice early in the afternoon session to have Zimbabwe 3 for 61. However, Campbell (88*) and Andy Flower (83*) batted though the rest of the day to give Zimbabwe an 11 run lead at stumps. Unfortunately, the position of the game looks remarkably similar to the same time in the first test.
Zimbabwe started the final day in an aggressive mood and lost two wickets, including Campbell (102) who made his first test century in his 47th test to be 5 for 335 and a lead of 108 runs. India could only remove one wicket in the afternoon session during which any hope of another victory disappeared. At tea, Zimbabwe was 6 for 425 with a lead of 198 runs and Andy Flower not out on 189. In the evening session Flower (232*) continued piling on the runs and at stumps the Zimbabwe total was 6 for 503 and the match was declared a draw. Sharandeep Singh was the most successful Indian bowler with 4 for 136 off 49 overs.
