Injured Andy Flower doubtful for Kochi ODI

Batsman Andy Flower could miss Zimbabwe's third one-day international against India on Wednesday because of a hip injury, captain Stuart Carlisle said.

"Andy is doubtful. He has a hip muscle strain," said Carlisle on Tuesday.

Flower suffered the injury during the second international on Sunday which India won by 64 runs to level the series 1-1.

He batted with a runner during Zimbabwe's unsuccessful chase of a the huge victory target of 320.

The 193-match veteran's injury comes just when he seemed to have regained his batting form with a solid 71 in the first game on Thursday, having struggled during the 2-0 defeat in the Test series before.

India also have an injury worry. Coach John Wright said leg-spinner Anil Kumble was nursing a shoulder strain.

BATTING WORRY

Zimbabwe scored a sensational one-wicket win with two balls to spare in Faridabad thanks to all-rounder Douglas Marillier's 56 not out from just 24 deliveries.

But India have dominated their bowling on good batting tracks.

Carlisle expected the Cochin pitch to also favour batsmen.

"We would like to bat if I win the toss and a score of around 280-300 will be good," he said.

But he was worried Zimbabwe's middle-order had not taken advantage of good starts in the previous games.

In Faridabad, Zimbabwe were reduced to 210 for eight, chasing 275 for victory before Marillier lifted them from the brink of defeat.

In the second game in Mohali, Campbell and emerging all-rounder Travis Friend shared a 134-run second-wicket stand from only 124 balls, but the chase fell apart once the pair fell in quick succession.

IMPROVE CATCHING

Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly was pleased with his side's performance but said they needed to improve their catching.

"We are doing pretty well. We missed some catches, but the fielding is okay," he said.

Ganguly has been lucky with the toss so far in the series and India have gone on to pile up totals of 274 and 319, the captain leading the way with excellent support from Vangipurappu Laxman and Rahul Dravid.

Newcomer Dinesh Mongia has also shown consistency as an aggressive opener partnering Ganguly in the absence of the injured Sachin Tendulkar.

The 25-year-old also shone as a utility bowler in Mohali, taking three for 31 with his slow left-arm spin.

The squads:

India - Saurav Ganguly (captain), Dinesh Mongia, Vangipurappu Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Kaif, Ajit Agarkar, Sanjay Bangar, Harbhajan Singh, Ajay Ratra (wk), Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Tinu Yohannan, Sarandeep Singh, Shiv Sundar Das.

Zimbabwe - Stuart Carlisle (captain), Alistair Campbell, Dion Ebrahim, Travis Friend, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Craig Wishart, Douglas Marillier, Heath Streak, Tatenda Taibu, Gary Brent, Douglas Hondo, Charles Coventry, Mpumulelu Mbangwa.

Umpires: Devender Sharma and Vijay Chopra.

Mail Cricket Editor