Unstoppable young Indian guns beat Zimbabwe by 42 runs, clinch T20I series 4-1

India coasted to their fourth successive win in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, winning the fifth and final match by 42 runs at the Harare Sports Club to clinch the series 5-1 and return home triumphantly.

The young Indian team, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube, and Sanju Samson from the victorious India T20 World Cup squad, was too good for the inexperienced Zimbabweans, most of who have little to no exposure against the top teams.

They were poor in fielding and their batting failed to provide stable start on so many occasions. On the time they did, the bowling failed to back up.

On Sunday, July 14, India were put into bat. They got off to a flier but lost wickets. Jaiswal hit two sixes on the two first deliveries – the first was a no ball, meaning India were 13/0 off just one ball. However, he was bowled by Sikandar Raza in the same over a few balls later.

Abhishek Sharma (14) and Shubman Gill (13) fell inside the powerplay as India progressed to 44/3.

However, Sanju Samson (58 off 45) and Riyan Parag (22 off 24) added 65 for the fourth wicket to stabilize India. Samson batted long and India were aided by a blazing 26 off 12 balls towards the end to finish at 167/6 in 20 overs.

Zimbabwe once again lost two early wickets, to be reduced to 15/2.

Tadiwanashe Marumani (27 off 24 balls) and Dion Myers (34 off 32 balls) brought the Zimbabweans back into the chase.

Zimbabwe needed 109 off 71 balls at the time. But then Marumani fell to Washington Sundar and Dion Myers followed, falling to Dube. Skipper Raza was run out and Zimbabwe were left at 87/5.

Faraz Akram provided the late fillip, with 27 off 13 balls (2x6s, 2x4s), but it was too little, too late.

While Dube (2/25 and 26) was the Player of the Match, Sundar got the Player of the Series Award for his eight wickets, the joint highest for the series. He also made 27 in the first T20I.

India cricket, Zimbabwe, T20