Harare, Indian bowlers led by Ravi Bishnoi produced a dominant effort to restrict an inexperienced Zimbabwe to 115 for nine in the first T20I of the five-match series here on Saturday.
Bishnoi (4/13) received adequate support from bowler Washington Sundar (2/11) as Zimbabwe struggled for a meaningful partnership after they were invited to bat on a pitch that offered a good amount of bounce and run.
However, Zimbabwe got off to a fairly fast start to their innings, reaching 40 for two in the Power Play segment even though their batsmen were not always convincing.
After the early dismissal of Innocent Kaia, who dragged a Mukesh Kumar delivery onto his stumps, Wessly Madhevere (21, 22b) and Brian Bennett (22, 15b) added 34 runs in quick time.
The highlight of their partnership was the fifth over in which they plundered 17 runs from left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed.
Bennett hit him for two successive boundaries as Zimbabwe appeared to have recovered from the early loss of Kaia.
But Bishnoi's dismissal of Bennett in the sixth over changed the tone of Zimbabwe's innings. Bennett failed to read Bishnoi's googly, which also led three more Zimbabwe batsmen to their doom later - Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani and Luke Jongwe.
From there, they advanced to 74 for three, courtesy of captain Sikandar Raza's (17, 19b) patience, but were lost from there, losing six wickets in 41 runs.
The home batsmen seemed to have fallen into a state of panic, as evidenced by the dismissal of Jonathan Campbell, son of former Zimbabwe captain Alastair Campbell.
Campbell pushed an Avesh Khan delivery into the sheets and asked for a single and his partner Dion Myers responded.
But Campbell suddenly changed his mind and fell behind as Myers crossed the area, forcing the former to retreat.
His last hope lay with the experienced Raza, and he generated some hope, smashing Avesh with a six over the player's head.
But the extra bounce Avesh generated soon finished off Raza as his mistimed pull ended up in Bishnoi's hands in the deep.
Washington joined the party with two wickets in as many balls, dismissing Myers (23, 22b) and Wellington Maskadza (0) off consecutive balls.
In the process, the Tamil Nadu man also completed 100 wickets in T20.
Clive Madande's cameo (29 not out, 25b) helped Zimbabwe surpass the 100-run mark.
Bishnoi (4/13) received adequate support from bowler Washington Sundar (2/11) as Zimbabwe struggled for a meaningful partnership after they were invited to bat on a pitch that offered a good amount of bounce and run.
However, Zimbabwe got off to a fairly fast start to their innings, reaching 40 for two in the Power Play segment even though their batsmen were not always convincing.
After the early dismissal of Innocent Kaia, who dragged a Mukesh Kumar delivery onto his stumps, Wessly Madhevere (21, 22b) and Brian Bennett (22, 15b) added 34 runs in quick time.
The highlight of their partnership was the fifth over in which they plundered 17 runs from left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed.
Bennett hit him for two successive boundaries as Zimbabwe appeared to have recovered from the early loss of Kaia.
But Bishnoi's dismissal of Bennett in the sixth over changed the tone of Zimbabwe's innings. Bennett failed to read Bishnoi's googly, which also led three more Zimbabwe batsmen to their doom later - Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani and Luke Jongwe.
From there, they advanced to 74 for three, courtesy of captain Sikandar Raza's (17, 19b) patience, but were lost from there, losing six wickets in 41 runs.
The home batsmen seemed to have fallen into a state of panic, as evidenced by the dismissal of Jonathan Campbell, son of former Zimbabwe captain Alastair Campbell.
Campbell pushed an Avesh Khan delivery into the sheets and asked for a single and his partner Dion Myers responded.
But Campbell suddenly changed his mind and fell behind as Myers crossed the area, forcing the former to retreat.
His last hope lay with the experienced Raza, and he generated some hope, smashing Avesh with a six over the player's head.
But the extra bounce Avesh generated soon finished off Raza as his mistimed pull ended up in Bishnoi's hands in the deep.
Washington joined the party with two wickets in as many balls, dismissing Myers (23, 22b) and Wellington Maskadza (0) off consecutive balls.
In the process, the Tamil Nadu man also completed 100 wickets in T20.
Clive Madande's cameo (29 not out, 25b) helped Zimbabwe surpass the 100-run mark.
