New Delhi: Zimbabwe stunned World Champions India in first T20I and defeated them by 13 runs in the last-over thriller at Harare Sports Club in Harare on July 6, Saturday. Sikandar Raza and Co. handed the Men in Blue their first defeat of 2024 in T20 internationals and leading the five-match T20I series by 1-0.
Debutants failed to deliver
Debutants Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel failed to make an impact in the low-scoring run-chase. Abhishek was dismissed by Bennett in the first over on duck. Muzarabani got the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the fourth over and put India under pressure. Chatara got the wicket Riyan Parag (2) and Rinku Singh (0) in the same over and pulled the match in favour of Zimbabwe. Raza dismissed Shubman Gill (31) in the 11th over, who was playing a sensible knock.
Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan tried to put some pressure back on the Zimbabwe bowlers and took India close to the target. Avesh scored 16 runs off 12 balls and was dismissed by Masakadza in the 16 over. Sundar also played a good knock and took the match to the last over but failed to take India over the line. This is bound to happen when your board, your selectors, your team don’t respect an opposition.
Indian bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 115
Earlier, Ravi Bishnoi produced a brilliant spell to restrict inexperienced Zimbabwe to 115/9 in the first innings. Bishnoi picked up 4 wickets and received adequate support from all-rounder Washington Sundar. Zimbabwe batters struggled to stitch any big partnership after India captain Shubman Gill invited them to bat first.
Zimbabwe made a brisk start to their innings, reaching 40/2 in the first six overs. After Mukesh Kumar dismissed Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere stitched a 34-run partnership with Brian Bennett. They took on Khaleel Ahmed and smacked him for 17 runs in the fifth over.
Bishnoi dismissed Bennett in the sixth over and changed the game for India. He also got the wickets of Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani and Luke Jongwe. Skipper Sikandar Raza and Dion Mayers tried to stitch a partnership but Avesh Khan got the wicket of Raza on 17(19). Clive Madande scored unbeaten 29 runs off 25 balls and helped Zimbabwe to post 115 runs on the scoreboard.
Debutans Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma and Dhruv Jurel failed to deliver as Zimbabwe defeated India by 13 runs in the first T20 at Harare Sports Club in Harare. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
