2nd ODI ZIM v IND: India secure comfortable 58-run victory

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan blasted his third career one-day international century to lay the foundation for his team's comfortable 58-run win over hosts Zimbabwe in the second game of the five-match series in Harare on Friday.

Dhawan's 116 off 127 balls enhanced his growing reputation in the limited overs game and, complemented by 69 runs from Dinesh Karthik, helped India compile a formidable total of 294 after being sent in to bat.

Zimbabwe, despite a bright start in their first 20 overs, fell well short in their reply, finishing on 236 for nine and helping India to a 2-0 series lead after their six-wicket victory on Wednesday.

It might have been a much more competitive outing had the home side capitalised on early chances as India's top order struggled with a lively pitch at the Harare Sports Club.

India lost their first four wickets for only 65 while Dhawan lived a charmed life.

He was caught behind off Kyle Jarvis when he had only three runs but a television review found the bowler had overstepped and was no-balled.

Dhawan was then dropped twice in between some text book-stroke play that saw him reach his half-century in 70 balls and his ton off 115.

Together with Karthik, he hauled India out of trouble with a partnership of 167 in 154 deliveries.

LUCKY DAY

"It was my lucky day, the wicket wasn't easy but our partnership took us to a big score," Dhawan said at the post-match presentation when he picked up the man of the match award.

A slow over rate saw Zimbabwe forced to bowl part-time spinner Sean Williams at the death, allowing a lusty late flourish from Vinay Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

Vusi Sibanda helped get Zimbabwe's chase off to a positive start, scoring 55 at the top of the innings, but they were unable to keep it up, losing momentum as they slumped from 109 for one to 133 for six.

As the run rate began to increase Zimbabwe seemingly settled for batting out the game, ending eight wickets down from their 50 overs, with Prosper Utseya hitting an unbeaten 52.

The two countries meet again in Harare on Sunday in the third match of the series before heading to the southern city of Bulawayo for the last two encounters next week.

ZIMBABWE INNINGS

India went 2-0 up registering yet another comfortable 58-run victory over Zimbabwe in the five-ODI series at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Chasing an imposing 296 to win, Zimbabwe were in the hunt till opener Vusi Sibanda was in the middle. He shared two important partnerships with Sikandar Raza (20) and Hamilton Masakadza (34) before succumbing at 55 from 65 deliveries containing seven boundaries and two sixes.

After the middle order failed, Elton Chigumbura (46) and Prosper Utseya (52) put on a strong 98-run stand for the seventh wicket but they never showed the intent to chase the target playing over cautiously.

But it was Jaydev Unadkat who took the credit among the Indian bowlers claiming four wickets which included the top two wickets.

It's all over for Zimbabwe. So India are 2-0 in the five-ODI series.

Unadkat gets another immediately. That makes it four wickets for him. He's on a hattrick. Zim 236-9in49.5 overs.

B  Vitori b Unadkat 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Unadkat gets his third wicket. He really has bowled well today.

K Jarvis b Unadkat 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Chigumbura departs finally. Zim 226-7 in 48.3 overs

E Chigumbura c Karthik b Mohammed Shami 46 (58b 4x4 1x6)

Zimbabwe batsmen killing time in the middle. Last three overs remaining. Zim 213-6 in 47 overs.

Finally some quick runs including two boundaries off Vinay Kumar bowling. Zim 205-6 in 46 overs.

Runs coming in only singles. Zim 193-6 in 35 overs

Zimbabwe does not look to be going for a win here. Both batsmen not even attempting big shots. Zim-190-6 in 44 overs.

Zimbabwe need 111 from 54 balls. Some blistering shots needed. Zim 184-6 in 41 overs

A maiden over from Vinay. That's not helping Zimbabwe one bit. Zim 177-6 in 40 overs.

Zimbabwe fighting hard, but they have a long way to go. Zim 177-6 in 39 overs.

Chigumbura flicks a fine boundary off his legs. Zim 172-6 in 38 overs.

Chigumbura on 20. Zimbabwe need 129 in 13 overs. Zim 166-6 in 6 overs.

Things getting tougher.Zim 159-6 in 36 overs.

Required runrate now over nine. Zim 155-6 in 35 overs.

Utseya glides Jadeja to the fine leg fence. Zim 149-6 in 34 overs.

Double success for Mishra as Waller is trapped leg before. Zim 133-6.

Malcolm Waller lbw b Mishra 2 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Vinay Kumar bowls a maiden to new batsman Chigumbura. Zim 133-5 in 30 overs.

Zimbabwe's innings is in tatters now as Masakadsza sweeps Mishra to Shami Mohammed. Zim 130-5.

Hamilton Masakadsza c Shami Mohammed  b Mishra 34 (47b 0x4 1x6)

Jadeja strikes trappling Williams leg before as he attempts a reverse sweep. Zim 127-4.

Sean Williams lbw b Jadeja 5 (11b 0x4 0x6)

After 24 overs, Zimbabwe are 120-3 in 24 overs.

Just one run from this over. Zimbabwe are 110-3 in 14 overs.

Two quick wickets put Zimbabwe in the backseat. 109-3 in 13 overs

Brendan Taylor run out 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Unadkat breaks another partnership. Sibanda is gone. Zimbabwe 109-2 in 20.1 overs.

Vusi Sibanda c Mishra b Unadkat 55 (65b 7x4 2x6)

A huge six of the last ball of Mishra, Masakadza reaches 20s. Zimbabwe 109 in 20 overs.

A timely knock from Sibanda as he gets to a well deserved half century. Zimbabwe 99-1 in 19  overs.

SIbanda is on 45, he gets a great six. Zimbabwe 82-1 in 16 overs.

At 14 overs Zimbabwe are 60-1.

A rare boundary. Zimbabwe 56-1 in 13 overs.

Sibanda reaches 18 as Zimbabwe reach 50-1 in 12 overs.

India get the first breakthrough. Good catch from Dhawan to end Raza. Zimbabwe 45-1 in 11 overs.

Sikandar Raza c Dhawan b Unadkat 20 (35b 3x4 0x6)

Jadeja introduced into the attack. He starts well. Zimbabwe 44-0 in 10 overs

Required runrate goes above six. Zimbabwe 42-0 in 9 overs

Things slowing a bit for ZImbabwe, but they still have not lost any wickets. Zimbabwe 36-0 in 8 overs.

Good first over from Unadkat. Gets a maiden over. Zimbabwe 30-0 in 7 overs

Zimbabwe going steady. 30-0 in 6 overs.

The openers doing a good job here. Raza will look for another good knock. Zimbabwe 26-0 in 5 overs.

Two boundaries for Zimbabwe. 21-0 in 4 overs.

A good over from Vinay. Just one run. Zimbabwe 12-0 in 3 overs.

Zimbabwe looking to take full advantage of the new ball. Zimbabwe 11-0 in 2 overs.

Sibanda scores two boundaries. Good positive start for Zimbabwe. 8-0 in 1 over.

Zimbabwe open with Sibanda and Sikandar Raza. Vinay opens bowling for India

INDIA INNINGS

Shikar Dhawan scored a century and shared a vital 167-partnership with Dinesh Karthik as India posted a formidable 294 for eight in 50 overs.

Dhawan was lucky to get as many as three reprives but he kept his focus to score a superb 116 in 127 deliveries including 11 boundaries and two sixes.

Dinesh Karthik who was under pressure for a good score, came at a time when India were reeling at 65 for 4. He played a fine knock to score 69 facing 79 deliveries with the help of six boundaries to put India in a position of strength.

Vinay Kumar provided some fireworks in the final overs smashing two sixes and as many boundaries to score a 12-ball 27 as India posted a superb total.

A last over cameo from Vinay Kumar and a last ball six from Shami take India to 294 for 8 in 50 overs.

A boundary from Jadeja. India 263-7 in 48 overs.

Just  three overs to go. Jadeja needs to fire. India 256-7in 47 overs.

Wickets falling in quick succession. Mishra is run out. India 252 for 7 in 45.5 overs.

A Mishra run out 10 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Two new batsmen in the middle. India 239-6 in 44 overs.

Dhawan finally departs. But not a good delivery to get out, nevertheless he has put India in a position of strenght. India 237-6 in 43.3 overs.

S Dhawan b Utseya 116 (127b 11x4 2x6)

Jadeja in. India are 235-5 in 43 overs.

That was unlucky for Karthik. But his knock has put India in a good position. A great partnership of 167 runs comes to an end. India 232-5 in 42.2 overs.

D Karthik run out 69 (74b 6x4 0x6)

Runs coming easily for India. India 229-4 in 42 overs.

Dhawan played a great knock to get to his centuries. He was lucky though but still a well deserved innings. India 216-4 in 41 overs.

Both batsmen are displaying some superb shots. Dhawan on 98. India 211-4 in 40 overs.

India can eye a big total from here. Karthik gets to a brilliant half century. His seventh half century in his ODI career. India 194-4 in 38 overs.

Dhawan gets his first six as he reaches 87. India 183-4 in 37 overs.

A good over for India. Dhawan survives again with a dropped catch in the deep. India are 170-4in 36 overs.

Despite the powerplay, boundaries not coming for India. India 154-4 in 34 overs.

Dhawan, Karthik dealing in singles at the moment. Partnership reaches 85. India 150-4 in 33 overs.

Batting powerplay taken.

West Indies bowlers keeping it tight. But they are behind schedule and need to hurry up to catch the slow over rate. India 144-4 in 32 overs.

Just singles coming in there. But Zimbabwe need wickets if they have to get the upperhand. India 139-4 in 31 overs.

India can eye a good total if these two keep going. India 135-4 in 30 overs.

The partnership reaches 65 runs. India are 130-4 in 29 overs.

Dhawan, Karthik looking very confident. India 127-4 in 28 overs.

The partnership going great. India 120-4 in 27 overs.

Karthik looks to be finding the gaps easily now. India 112-4 in 26 overs.

India cross the 100-run mark half way through the innings. India 106-4 in 25 overs.

Karthik just gets a single.Dhawan on 45. India 96-4 in 23 overs.

Dhawan gets cracking. 14 runs coming off that over. India 95-4 in 23 overs.

Dhawan reaches 31, Karthk on 4. India 81-4 in 22 overs.

Boundaries have dried up. India are 77-4 in 21 overs.

Runs hardly coming. But India can't afford to lose wickets. Dhawan and Karthik are showing a lot of patience. India 74-4 in 20 overs

Just one run. India 71-4 in 19 overs.

Zimbabwe bowlers still keeping up the pressure. It's difficult to score runs. India 70-4 in18 overs.

Zimbabwe on a roll here. Raina is removed even before he settles in. India are 65-4 in 16.4 overs.

S Raina c Taylor b Chatara 4 (11b 0x4 0x6)

Dhawan reaches 23 facing 41 deliveries. India 62-3 in 16 overs.

Things really going slow for India. Zimbabwe bowlers are doing a great job. India 59-3 in 15 overs.

Great over from Vitori. Only one run from that over. India 56-3 in 14 overs.

Zimbabwe strike again. Brilliant bowling out there. Rayudu is out and India are 55 for 3 in 13.2 overs.

A Rayudu c Utseya b Vitori 5 (25b 0x4 0x6)

Dhawan and Rayudu showing a lot of charecter here. Zimbabwe will look for a wicket. India 54-2 in 13 overs.

A boundary from Dhawan. India 48-2 in 11 overs.

Only one run. Dhawan gets another life but a tough one for Vitori who failed to latch on to a catch of his own bowling. India 44-2 in 10 overs.

Dhawan has been lucky today. This time he gets an edge and he is dropped by the wicketkeeper. India 43-2 in 9 overs.

Another good over for Zimbabwe. Indian batsmen adopting a cautious approach. India 38-2 in 8 overs.

A fine over for Zimbabwe. India can't afford to lose more wickets. India 36-2 in 7 overs.

Zimbabwe take the big wicket of Kohli. India 35-2 in 6.2 overs.

V Kohli c Waller b Jarvis 14 (18b 2x4 0x6)

Only two runs from the over. India 31-1 in 6 overs.

Dhawan was lucky there. After getting an edge caught at slip, Jarvis had bowled a noball. Dhawan makes good use of it to get two boundaries. India 29-1 in 5 overs.

Vitori continues to bowl well. Just three runs from this over. India 14-1 in 4 overs.

Two boundaries for Kohli as India takes control. India 11-1 in 3 overs.

Vitori bowls a fine over. He's getting the ball to move. India 3-1 in 2 overs.

Brilliant start for Vitori and India lose their first one. Zimbabwe's decision to field first is paying off. India 2-1 in 1.1 overs.

R Sharma c Sibanda b Vitori 1 (7b 0x4 0x6)


Good beginning for Zimbabwe. Just two runs given away. India 2-0 in 1 over.

Dhawan, Sharma open for India, Zimbabwe begin with Jarvis

Playing XI

Zimbabwe: H Masakadza, V Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, B Taylor, S Williams, M Waller, E Chigumbura, B Vitori, P Utseya, K Jarvis, T Chatara.

India: S Dhawan, R Sharma, V Kohli, D Karthik, S Raina, A Rayudu, R Jadeja, A Mishra, Mohammed Shami, R Vinay Kumar, J Unadkat

Zimbabwe have won the toss and put India into bat in the second one-day international at Harare Sports Club.

India cruised to a six-wicket victory in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe in Harare on Wednesday with Virat Kohli scoring a century at more than a run a ball.

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