India bounce back with emphatic win over Zimbabwe

India bounced back in the T20 International series against Zimbabwe, winning the second match by 100 runs on the back of a sterling 47-ball 100 from Abhishek Sharma to bring the five-match series to 1-1 after two games.

Batting first at the Harare Sports Club ground on July 7, India posted a massive 234/2 in 20 overs, improving upon the batting display from the first match on July 6.

Skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed in the second over for just two. But Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 off 47 balls) added 137 for the second wicket to take the team off to a flying start. Sharma hit eight sixes and seven fours. Rinku Singh then hit unbeaten 48 off 22 balls (5x6s, 2x4s) to take the team to the eventual total, adding unbeaten 87 for the third wicket.

The target proved too much for the Zimbabweans. After a blistering start through Brian Bennett (26 off 9 balls), as they reached 40 in three overs, the host lost track and folded for 134 in 18.4 overs.

Luke Jongwe scored 33 off 26 balls (4x4s) to bring some modesty to Zimbabwe total.

This defeat against a largely second-string India was Zimbabwe’s joint biggest defeat in T20Is in terms of runs. They had also lost by 100 runs to Australia in 2018 at the same venue.

India skipper Gill praised the openers, saying, “Very happy with the way Abhishek [Sharma] and Rutu[raj Gaikwad] batted. It was not easy especially in the powerplay, with the ball moving around but Abhi and Rutu built the innings brilliantly.”

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza rued the dropped catches and his team’s poor batting but acknowledged Indian team’s superiority.   

“The world champions will eventually play like world champions. Dropping catches certainly hurt us today. I expected 200 on this wicket today but they got 30 more runs,” Raza was quoted as saying by cricbuzz.com at the presentation.  

“Coming into the chase, I thought it would be a close game but it wasn't to be, the top-order didn't fire.”

Abhishek Sharma, India cricket team, Zimbabwe