2.24 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

2nd T20: India crush Zimbabwe to level series

India's Mandeep Singh and Lokesh Rahul celebrate as they walk off the field as Zimbabwe wicket keeper Peter Moor looks on, June 20, 2016. (Reuters)

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

India bounced back from their chastening defeat to Zimbabwe over the weekend to thump the hosts by 10 wickets in the second Twenty20 international at Harare Sports Club on Monday and level the three-match series at 1-1.

Zimbabwe's unexpected two-run victory in Saturday's opener had suggested they might have turned a corner after a hopeless performance in the one-day series, in which they were whitewashed 3-0.

But on Monday they reverted to type with another feeble batting performance, scoring 99 for nine as India seamers Barinder Sran and Jasprit Bumrah shared seven wickets.

In reply, India's openers KL Rahul and Mandeep Singh took advantage of a couple of dropped catches to knock off the target in just 13.1 overs.

"Obviously (Saturday) defeat was hurting, but we discussed a few points of what we needed to do, and I think we implemented them really well today," said Singh.

Zimbabwe's batsmen had led the way in victory, but on Monday they never got going as Sran picked up four wickets in seven deliveries to reduce the hosts to 28 for four.

Bumrah did the damage at the back of the innings, as he dismissed top scorer Peter Moor for 31 and danger man Elton Chigumbura for eight to record figures of 3 for 11.

Sran finished with 4 for 10 from his four overs - the second best figures by a bowler on Twenty20 international debut.

"The shot selection is something that myself and Lance Klusener are forever trying to correct," said Zimbabwe interim coach Makhaya Ntini, who confirmed he was interested in taking the job on a full-time basis.

"We need to give them the understanding that you don't win a game or score a hundred from one shot. If someone gets out before you, you need to be the one who takes charge of the game and correct the mistake that the other one has made."

Faced with such a meagre target India's openers had time to play themselves in, but it did not take long for the boundaries to start flowing.

Singh was dropped twice in his innings, and went on to finish unbeaten on 52 while Rahul was 47 not out.

"The wicket wasn't easy for shot-making because the ball was keeping low a little," said Singh.

"At the start I was trying to hit hard, because I generally play aggressively, but I watched Rahul and he asked me to calm down a little and try to time the ball. Slowly I controlled the nerves and then I was fine."

The series decider takes place at the same venue on Wednesday.

UNBEATEN

Mandeep Singh blasted a quick-fire unbeaten half-century as India crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to level the Twenty20 series on Monday.

The result sets up a series decider in the third and final game that will also be played at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, but could only muster 99 for nine in their 20 overs as the Indian bowlers strangled the run-rate.

The tourists made short work of their reply, racing to their victory target off 13.1 overs as Mandeep Singh (52 from 40 balls) and fellow opener Lokesh Rahul (47 from 40 balls) put on a century stand.

All the Zimbabwe batsmen struggled to score quick runs in their innings with none managing more than a run a ball. Peter Moor (31 from 32 balls) was the only one to muster any sort of resistance.

Debutant seamer Barinder Sran took for wickets to lead the Indian charge, while fellow paceman Jasprit Bumrah picked up three wickets in his four overs.

India also handed a debut to seamer Dhawal Kulkarni, though he was by far the most expensive of the bowlers as his one wicket cost 32 runs.

Barinder Sran (4 for 10) and Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 11) were instrumental in India beating Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the second T20 to level the three match series after the hosts won the first match.

Peter Moor was the hosts' only top scorer with 31 after skipper Graeme Crememr won the toss and elected to bat only to be restricted to 99 for 9.

KL Rahul (47 not out) and Mandeep Singh (52 not out) then guided the visitors home in only 13.1 overs.

The last T20 is on Wednesday.

KL Rahul and Mandeep Singh have given India a good start. India are cruising at 74-0 after 10 overs. Zim were 50-4 at the same stage.

India are 28-0 after 5 overs. Zim were 28-2.

Zimbabwe innings

Barinder Sran (4 for 10) and Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 11) were instrumental in India restricting Zimbabwe to 99 for 9 in the second T20 in Harare on Monday.

Peter Moor was the hosts' only top scorer with 31 after skipper Graeme Cremer won the toss and elected to bat.

The hosts won the first T20 to take a lead in the three-match series.

Dhawal Kulkarni gets among the wickets, removing the Zimbabwe skipper.

Gramem Cremer c Rayudu b Kulkarni 4 (6b)

Bumrah rattles the furniture of Madziva with his slow off-cutter. Zim 84-8, 17 overs.

Neville Madziva b Bumrah 1 (2b)

Bumrah finds the gap between bat and pad to send Chigumbura's middle stump cart-wheeling.

Elton Chigumbura b Bumrah 8 (19b 1x4)

Bumrah continues to be among the wickets getting rid of Moor who was looking set at the crease. Bumrah has now bagged 22 wickets in a calendar year. Zim 76-6, 15 overs.

Peter Moor c Patel b Bumrah 31 (32b 2x4 1x6)

Peter Moor plonks Axar Patel on top of the roof and then hits him straight past the non-striker to the ropes. Zim 68-5, 13 overs. 

Chahal strikes to put Zimbabwe on the mat.

Malcolm Waller c Patel b Chahal 14 (20b 1x4)

Peter Moor and Malcom Waller have stitched a nice partnership to somewhat wriggle their team out of a tight situation. Zim 52-4, 10 overs.

Sran grabs all four wickets to fall of Zimbabwe although the decision against Mutombodzi looked doubtful after the ball hit him over the knee-roll. Zim 35-4, 6 overs.

Tinotenda Mutombodzi lbw b Sran 0 (1b)

Sran is on a roll grabbing all three wickets. Here Lokesh Rahul takes a nice low catch after Raza tried to thump Sran through point.

Sikandar Raza c Rahul b Sran 1 (2b)

Masakadza goes for a will heave but exposes his stumps and Sran is bang on target uprooting his middle stump. Zim

Hamilton Masakadza b Sran 10 (12b 2x4)

Chibhabha tries to send one over mid-on but Rayudu takes a good catch running with his back to the ball. Zim 15-1, 3 overs.

Chamu Chibhabha c Rayudu b Sran 10 (11b 2x4)

Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer won the toss and elected to bat. Peter Moore comes in for Mutumbami.

MS Dhoni made two changes to the side that lost the first T20. Dhawal and Sran come in for Unadkat and Rishi Dhawan.

Teams:

Zimbabwe: C Chibhabha, H Masakadza, Sikandar Raza, M Waller, E Chigumbura, P Moor, C Mutombodzi, A Cremer, N Madziva, T Muzarabani, D Tiripano.

India: KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, A Rayudu, M Pandey, K Jadhav, MS Dhoni, A Patel, D Kulkarni, J Bumrah, B Sran, Y Chahal.

Preview

India will be eager to bounce back and level the T20 series against Zimbabwe when they clash in the second match Harare on Monday.

The new-look Indian side suffered a shock two-run loss in the first match on Saturday with skipper MS Dhoni failing to carry them over the line with eight needed off the last over.

Zimbabwe rose from the ashes of an embarrassing one-day series whitewash at the hands of India to shock the tourists by two runs in a thrilling Twenty20 international at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

In a game that went right down to the final delivery, Elton Chigumbura's unbeaten 54 ultimately made the difference as Zimbabwe took a one-nil lead in the three-match series.

Despite fielding five debutants in the format, India went into the fixture as strong favourites because of their experience in the Indian Premier League, only to come away chastened.