On an excellent batting strip, India's bowlers did a creditable job in taking eight Zimbabwe wickets on the first day. After a quiet first session, the Indians created more wicket-taking opportunities in the next two, and the result was seven wickets in four hours of play. In his first spell, Zaheer Khan had figures of 5-2-8-1, but only four times did batsmen play shots where they were not in control – that is, they played-and-missed, edged, or were rapped on the pads – which amounts to a mere 12.9%. That statistic rose to a whopping 33% in the afternoon session. The corresponding figures for Anil Kumble was 13.3% after the first two session; in the last session, it increased to 31.1%.

Harbhajan Singh did not figure among the wickets, but with some luck could easily have grabbed a couple. 23.6% of the time, the batsmen were not in control against him, a figure that compares favourably with Kumble's (24.7%) and Zaheer Khan's (24.4%).

Both Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were immaculate with their line and length. Kumble sent down 81% of his deliveries on or outside the off stump, and only 6.8% on the leg stump. Harbhajan was equally impressive – 85.4% on or outside off stump, and 11% on the leg. Their length was impeccable too – together, 83.6% of their deliveries were on a good length. The superb control by these two, on a wicket which didn't afford them much help, ensured that Zimbabwe were reined in.

S Rajesh is sub-editor of Wisden.com India.

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