The second Test match between India and Zimbabwe being played at the Harare Sports Club has gone through the highs and lows in the first two days. So far 538 runs have been scored for the loss of eighteen wickets on a true pitch, which has enough in it for the bowlers.

The first day of the match saw India make 237 runs in their first innings and then send Zimbabwe reeling on 31/1 at close of play. Andy Flower (45) and Dion Ebrahim (49) put together a valuable partnership of 87 for the fourth wicket to push Zimbabwe to relative safety. When captain Heath Streak (40) fell to Tendulkar's guiles, Zimbabwe looked like surrendering the first innings lead to India. They were 175/6, trailing behind by 62 runs.

Grant Flower was in real danger of losing partners. Arnoldus Blignaut who bats left handed, joined Flower in the middle. They had a clear objective in their mind, to get past the Indian score of 237. What followed was a mixture of Grant Flower's experience and Arnoldus Blignaut's exuberance.

Flower was cautious and Blignaut was quite blunt about what he had to do, launching into attack whenever the bowlers erred in line and length. Blignaut smashed a full toss from Tendulkar through extra cover for four. Srinath was the next, a delicate glance to fine leg for four followed with a cracking square drive to the fence. He smashed a massive six over mid-wicket off Tendulkar to see the last of him.

Flower too got into the act as he cover drove Srinath for four. Blignaut cracked an off drive for four, hit on the rise off Srinath, a shot played in such disdain. All the strokeplay ensured that the field was set far and wide to protect the boundaries. There were easy singles to be taken and the two batsmen went about collecting them with ease.

The two Zimbabweans brought up their fifty partnership, when Blignaut played Harbhajan Singh over covers for a three. The counterattack left the Indian bowlers completely clueless, the fifty coming up off just 44 balls. Flower and Blignaut proved a point or two that the Indian bowling loses its edge when attacked.

It was a mixture of strokeplay and aggressive running between the wickets that took Zimbabwe to 236/6 after 74 overs. There was an air of suspense as Harbhajan Singh bowled the first ball of the 75th to Blignaut. The ball was given a tweak by the Indian spinner, the ball was well tossed up too, Blignaut came charging down the track and lofted it high and soaring over covers for a massive six. Zimbabwe were 242/6, the first innings lead taken, the moral victory gained in the process.