For Zimbabwe, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Wesley Madhevere established an opening stand of 63 runs. But the hosts lost their way after the duo fell in quick succession. Captain Sikandar Raza stepped up to take Zimbabwe past 150 with a 28-ball 46.
His quick hitting was combined with two fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 164.29, although his dismissal at the end cost Zimbabwe between 10 and 15 runs. Pushed to bat first, Zimbabwe got off to a decent start as Madhevere and Marumani hit seven boundaries between them in an opening 63-run partnership.
Marumani had luck on his side when Dube dropped a catch midway through the third over as Zimbabwe, for the first time in the series, did not lose a wicket in the Power-play. India finally made a breakthrough in the ninth over when Marumani misjudged the pull towards mid-wicket, giving Abhishek his first T20I wicket. In the next over, Madhevere fell after Dube caught the top edge at deep square leg.
Raza injected some momentum into the innings by hitting a boundary off Dube and Abhishek, while becoming the first Zimbabwe batsman to score 2000 men's T20I runs. But wickets continued to fall for Zimbabwe as Brian Bennett arrogantly cut to cover for Washington and Johnathan Campbell was dismissed by a direct hit from Ravi Bishnoi at the non-striker's end.
Raza continued to shine by sweeping Washington for six, followed by swinging his arms freely against Khaleel to take a four (from a free hit) and six respectively in a run of 18. But debutant pacer Deshpande picked his first international wicket when Raza looked another great shot, but it hit a skier to cover.
Dion Myers got out too early in his delivery off a slower ball from Khaleel and got a lead which was captured by the pacer, who struck again on the last ball of the innings by bringing Clive Madande straight to mid-wicket.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 152/7 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 46, Tadiwanashe Marumani; Khaleel Ahmed 2-32, Shivam Dube 1-11) against India
His quick hitting was combined with two fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 164.29, although his dismissal at the end cost Zimbabwe between 10 and 15 runs. Pushed to bat first, Zimbabwe got off to a decent start as Madhevere and Marumani hit seven boundaries between them in an opening 63-run partnership.
Marumani had luck on his side when Dube dropped a catch midway through the third over as Zimbabwe, for the first time in the series, did not lose a wicket in the Power-play. India finally made a breakthrough in the ninth over when Marumani misjudged the pull towards mid-wicket, giving Abhishek his first T20I wicket. In the next over, Madhevere fell after Dube caught the top edge at deep square leg.
Raza injected some momentum into the innings by hitting a boundary off Dube and Abhishek, while becoming the first Zimbabwe batsman to score 2000 men's T20I runs. But wickets continued to fall for Zimbabwe as Brian Bennett arrogantly cut to cover for Washington and Johnathan Campbell was dismissed by a direct hit from Ravi Bishnoi at the non-striker's end.
Raza continued to shine by sweeping Washington for six, followed by swinging his arms freely against Khaleel to take a four (from a free hit) and six respectively in a run of 18. But debutant pacer Deshpande picked his first international wicket when Raza looked another great shot, but it hit a skier to cover.
Dion Myers got out too early in his delivery off a slower ball from Khaleel and got a lead which was captured by the pacer, who struck again on the last ball of the innings by bringing Clive Madande straight to mid-wicket.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 152/7 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 46, Tadiwanashe Marumani; Khaleel Ahmed 2-32, Shivam Dube 1-11) against India
