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28 March 2024

India survive Zimbabwe 'pressure' to win

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was delighted to see his team cope with the pressure of chasing down Zimbabwe's 287 on Saturday, insisting the extensive workout will help them in the World Cup knockout rounds.

Zimbabwe stretched the defending champions after skipper Brendan Taylor smashed a fine 138 before the Africans reduced them to 92-4 in reply.

But Suresh Raina then made the most of his good fortune after twice being dropped to hit 110 not out while Dhoni was unbeaten on 85 as India overcame the jitters to achieve their best World Cup chase in 48.4 overs.

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The win was India's sixth in six games ahead of their March 19 quarter-final against Bangladesh in Melbourne.

"I think it couldn't have been better in the sense if you're playing the last game of the league stage, and if you get an easy win, you don't get a lot out of that game," said Dhoni.

"What was good was the spinners were put under pressure, and also we lost quick wickets initially, and that actually put our middle and lower middle order under pressure, so we gained a lot out of it."

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin went for 75 runs in his ten overs for one wicket while fellow slow bowler Ravindra Jadeja conceded 71 without any reward in as many overs.

India then lost four key wickets before Raina and Dhoni put on an unbroken 195-run stand for the fifth wicket.

"Winning, of course, was very important, but the knock by Raina was crucial coming at number five," said Dhoni.

"More often than not you don't get an opportunity. You get in to bat maybe after the 38th, 39th over if your top order is batting well and you have to slog it out, so you play the big shot, you get out, you don't score too many runs.

"When you get into the knockout stages you want to have runs under your belt. It doesn't really matter how many runs, but once you get going, it just gives you that good feeling, which I feel is important in the knockout stages.

"Overall that's one of the main reasons why I would say it was a good game for us, and all the batsmen, also, they were under pressure."

Dhoni denied his team was not feeling the pressure, like they did in the 2011 World Cup staged at home.

"We have the same kind of pressure. I've said it so many times, irrespective of which team we play or which tournament we play, we are under pressure.

"The good thing, the boys are quite used to it. A few times, there have been instances where we are down, but from that position, also, we have come back strongly and we have done well."

Unbeaten

Suresh Raina scored an unbeaten century while Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit 85 not out to guide India to a convincing six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the final group match in Auckland.

Needing 288 to win, India invited early trouble losing two wickets for just 21 runs.

Though Virat Kohli (38) made a brief stay situation was still grim when he departed.

Raina and Dhoni then took up the responsibility as they shared a brilliant unbroken 192-run for the fifth wicket as India reached the target with eight balls to spare.

Earlier, a brilliant century from skipper Brendan Taylor meant Zimbabwe made a fine 287 in 48.5 overs.

Put in to bat first, Zimbabwe lost three wickets for just 33 runs before Taylor and Sean Williams took charge. The duo put Zimbabwe back on track with a fine 92-run stand for the fourth wicket.

While Williams succumbed scoring 50 from 57 deliveries, Taylor continued his power-packed knock to score 138 from 110 deliveries supported by 15 fours and five sixes.

Craig Ervine (27) and Sikandar Raza played brief cameos.

For India, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma picked three wickets each.

INDIA INNINGS

Superb century from Raina. Came at a situation when India were in a state of bother. His knock comes off 94 deliveries including eight boundaries and four sixes. Ind 245-4 in 44.2 overs.

Dhoni gets to his half century in 56 balls. The partnership has reached 136 from 122 balls.

A fine boundary from Suresh Raina takes him to his half century. He consumes 67 deliveries to get there with three boundaries and two sixes. Ind 167-4 in 36.1 overs.

The 50 runs partnership between Raina and Dhoni comes up in 57 balls. Ind 142-4 in 32.1 overs.

Raina cuts loose as he hammers two consecutive sixes to Williams. India need 161 from 120 balls and this partnership is very crucial for India. Ind 127-4 in 30 overs.

India looks to be in deep trouble as Kohli is bowled by Raza. Ind 92-4 in 22.4 overs.

Virat Kohli b Sikandar Raza 38 (48b 4x4 0x6)

Kohli is looking comfortable on 36 while Raina is yet to settle in. He has only 3 from 11 balls. India need 205 from 30 overs. Ind 83-3 in 20 overs.

India lose an important wicket as Rahane is run out. That was a real close call. Ind 71-3 in 16.3 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane run out 19 (24b 3x4 0x6)

Kohli and Rahane look to be comfortably sailing as they stablise the innings. Ind 45-2 in 12 overs.

What a over from Panyangara as Dhawan also succumbs. He was struggling from the first ball as he plays on. Ind 21-2 in 6.5 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan b Panyangara 4 (20b 1x4 0x6)

Zimbabwe draw the first blood as Panyangara strikes to end Rohit Sharma. Ind 21-0 in 6.1 overs.

Rohit Sharma c Sikandar Raza b Panyangara 16 (21b 2x4 0x6)

An unusual cautious start from Indian openers. Dhwan taking too much of time to settle in playing 15 deliveries to get to four. Ind 20-0 in 5 overs.

India ready for the chase as Rohit and Shikhar begin proceedings. 

ZIMBABWE INNINGS

Yadav adds another to his account to make it three as Zimbabwe are all out for 287 in 48.5 overs.

Tendai Chatara b Yadav 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

One more batsman succumbs going for the final push. Good catch from Sharma in the deep. Zim 286-9 in 48.1 overs.

Regis Chakabva c Rohit Sharma b Yadav 10 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Shami earns his third wicket as Panyangara hands an easy catch to Yadav in the deep. Zim 285-8 in 47.3 overs. 

Tinashe Panyangara c Yadav b Mohammed Shami 6 (6b 1x4 0x6)

After a brief cameo including two back to back sixes Shami gets the perfect yorker to end Raza. Zim 276-7 in 46 overs.

Sikandar Raza b Mohammed Shami 28 (15b 1x4 3x6)

Mohit Sharma picks his second wicket to end Ervine. Zim 241-6 in 43.1 overs.

Craig Ervine c & b MM Sharma 27 (41b 1x4 1x6)

A spectacular innings comes to an end as Taylor departs scoring a superb century. His innings has give zimbabwe a fine hope in this match. Zim 239-5 in 42 overs.

Brendon Taylor c Dhawan b MM Sharma 138 (110b 15x4 5x6)

Taylor runs havoc in Jadeja's over as he hammers three boundaries and two sixes to score 26 runs from that over. Zim 232-4 in 41 overs.

What a knock from Taylor as he becomes the only zimbabwe batsman to score two successive centuries in a World Cup. Zim 183-4 in 38 runs.

Ashwin ends the partnership as he takes a catch off his bowling. Williams played well but will feel disappointed with that shot. Zim 126-4 in 28.3 overs.

Sean Williams c & b Ashwin 50 (57b 3x4 3x6)

Great knocks from skipper Taylor and Sean Williams as they reach their respective half centuries. The partnership has reached 92. Zim 125-3 in 28 overs,

A fine partnership buidling here as Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams put on 38 runs for the fourth wicket. Zim 71-3 in 21 overs.

Tough start for Zimbabwe as another wicket tumbles. Great stuff from the pacers. Zim 33-3 in 11 overs.

Solomon Mire c Dhoni b MM Sharma 9 (22b 1x4 0x6)

Trouble for Zimbabwe as they lose the second wicket quickly. Brilliant bowling from Shami and an equally impressive catch from Dhawan at slips. Zim 13-2 in 4.3 overs.

Chamu Chibhabha c Dhawan b Mohammed Shami 7 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Indian pacers continue to be impressive as Yadav picks the first wicket. A lovely full lenght delivery takes the edge of Masakadza to Dhoni. Zim 11-1 in 3.3 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza c Dhoni b Yadav 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Shami bowls for India as Chibhabha and Masakadza open for Zimbabwe.

India have won the toss and elected to field. No change in the Indian team and Dhoni looks to be serious on winning this with no experimenting.

PLAYING XI

Zimbabwe: Chamu Chibhabha, Sikandar Raza, Solomon Mire, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva, Tinashe Panyangara, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tendai Chatara

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav

PREVIEW

Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore hailed the impact of Virat Kohli on the Indian team Thursday but insisted the batting superstar still has plenty to achieve.

Whatmore coached Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja during India's junior World Cup triumph in 2008 and will come face to face with them again on Saturday in the teams' concluding World Cup Pool A game at Eden Park.

"Like any young player, if you are involved in their development, it is always nice to see progress. To be very honest with you, I was only there for a short period of time but the time I spent with them was enjoyable," said the widely-travelled Whatmore, who worked at India's national cricket academy from 2007 to 2012

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"It wasn't difficult to see that they had potential to go on and it is nice to see they have realised it. There is still more for them to do."

Whatmore, who also coached Sri Lanka to the World Cup title in 1996, said Kohli has set an example for youngsters to follow.

"He is confident. He was confident also as an under-19 captain. But there have been many examples of confident young players who don't follow up and follow through. He is one who has," said Whatmore, in charge of Pakistan before taking up Zimbabwe job in December last year.

The Zimbabwe coach said he had also been impressed by India's bowling attack which has been revived at the World Cup after enduring a dismal Test series against Australia and tri-nations ODI tournament which preceded the World Cup.

"It's a team that is bowling the opposition out frequently and that has been a big plus for India," said Whatmore.

"Their batting talent has never really been in question. What was needed was a good strong bowling performance and they have done that."

Whatmore said Zimbabwe will miss experienced batsman Brendan Taylor who will retire from international cricket after the World Cup and will play county cricket for Nottinghamshire.

A former national captain, Taylor has scored 1,493 Test runs, including four centuries, and 166 one-day internationals.

"It is true we will miss Brendan, who is going to Nottingham, and they are very, very lucky to have him. Despite that, we feel we have got a number of players who make this team really strong in terms of what they offer.

"The problem is that we haven't had enough matches. If we had enough matches, then I am sure that in certain defining moments, we would be equal to it. We would not be going home on Sunday. We would be playing in the second round."