Cricket: Manjrekar unbeaten

Zimbabwe 456; India 278-7

SANJAY MANJREKAR came to India's rescue yesterday with a century to steer India clear of trouble as their inaugural Test against Zimbabwe in Harare, with one day remaining, appeared to be heading for a draw.

Starting the day on 27 in India's total of 93 for 4, Manjrekar batted for six hours to remain unbeaten on 100. His performance, coupled with a fine 60 from Kapil Dev, helped India avert the follow-on and finish the day on 278 for 7 in reply to Zimbabwe's 456 all out.

India's efforts were hampered by a superb spell of spin bowling by the 45-year-old John Traicos, who has figures of 5 for 86.

Traicos, who played three Tests for South Africa in 1970 and remains the oldest contemporary Test cricketer, kept the Indian batsmen on their toes while sending down 50 immaculate overs.

However, when Kapil Dev joined Manjrekar with the score at 101 for 5, they repaired the early damage with an entertaining stand that enabled India to go to lunch on 185 without further loss.

Kapil hit nine boundaries during a 95-ball innings before being bowled middle stump by Traicos while attempting an ambitious straight drive.

Manjrekar's fourth century in 22 matches, which appears to have ended Zimbabwe's hopes of victory, came after he had spent a nervous 70 minutes in the nineties before darting for a sharp single against Traicos. He has so far batted for 508 minutes and hit seven boundaries.

(Zimbabwe won toss)

ZIMBABWE - First Innings 456 (D L Houghton 121, G W Flower 82; Prabhakar 3-66, Kumble 3-79).

INDIA - First Innings

(Overnight: 93 for 4)

R J Shastri c Pycroft b Burmester 11

W V Raman b Crocker 43

S V Manjrekar not out 100

S R Tendulkar c and b Traicos 0

*M A Azharuddin c G Flower b Traicos 9

V Raju c Arnott b Traicos 7

Kapil Dev b Traicos 60

M Prabakar c Arnott b Traicos 14

K S More not out 23

Extras (b2, lb8, nb1) 11

Total (for 7, 159 overs) 278

Fall: 1-29 2-77 3-78 4-93 5-101 6-197 7-219.

To bat: J Srinath, A Kumble.

Bowling: Brandes 2-0-3-0; Burmester 34-16-67-1; Jarvis 33-16-56-0; Crocker 35-18-41-1; Traicos 50- 16-86-5; G Flower 5-0-15-0.

Umpires: H Bird, I Robinson and K Kantilal.