Cricket: Kambli joins list of greats

India . . . . . . . . . . . . .411-4

Zimbabwe

VINOD KAMBLI joined one of cricket's most distinguished lists yesterday when he scored his second successive Test double century on a rain-shortened second day against Zimbabwe at New Dehli.

Kambli's undefeated innings of 207, follows his 224 against England in Bombay last month and makes him just the third batsman in Test history to score double hundreds in consecutive innings, the others being Wally Hammond of England and Don Bradman of Australia.

The young left-hander reached the landmark with a cover-drive to the boundary off John Traicos, his 26th four, as he helped push India to an imposing 411 for 4.

Hammond performed the feat twice scoring 251 and 200 in Australia in 1928-29, followed by 227 and 336 not out in New Zealand four years later. Bradman hit 304 and 244 against England in successive innings at Leeds and The Oval in 1934.

Kambli, resuming on 176, was restricted to 71 minutes at the crease after rain and the poor quality of the covers combined to delay the start.

Heavy showers half an hour before play left soggy patches in the bowlers' run-ups and play commenced 30 minutes before tea. Another shower then washed out much of the final session.

The only wicket to fall was that of Mohammad Azharuddin, who was run out when he failed to beat an Ali Shah throw from backward point after Kambli had turned down the second run.

Azharuddin was slow in grounding his bat and the wicketkeeper Andrew Flower whipped off the bails. The Indian captain scored 42 from 73 deliveries, adding 107 runs for the fourth wicket with Kambli.

(Second day: India won toss)

INDIA - First Innings

(Overnight: 340 for 3)

M Prabhakar c A Flower b Brain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

N S Sidhu lbw b Traicos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

V G Kambli not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207

S R Tendulkar c Traicos b Ranchod. . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

* M A Azharuddin run out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

] P K Amre not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Extras (b16 lb6 w2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Total (for 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411

Fall: 1-19 2-126 3-263 4-370.

Bowling: Brandes 26-4-93-0; Brain 19-1-78-1 (w2); Shah 10-3-43-0; Traicos 35.4-3-130-1; Ranchod 12-0-45-1.

To bat: Kapil Dev, V Yadav, A R Kumble, R K Chauhan, M Singh.

ZIMBABWE: * D L Houghton, A Flower, K J Arnott, G W Flower, A H Shah, A D R Campbell, G Briant, E A Brandes, D H Brain, A J Traicos, U Ranchod.