New Delhi: Skipper Shubman Gill’s sparkling half century guided India to a 23-run win over Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Harare on Wednesday.
With their second consecutive win, India took a 2-1 lead in the series after going down in the opener, as they won the toss and opted to bat.
Gill’s 49-ball 66 along with ruturaj Gaikwad (49 off 28) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 off 27) pulled India to 182/4 after which Washington Sundar-led (3/15) bowlers restricted the home team to 159/6.
Zimbabwe never threatened to overhaul India’s score though their number four batter Dion Myers (65 not out 49) tried his best.
Apart from Sundar pacer Avesh Khan impressed with a couple of wickets.
India would now look to seal series win in the fourth T20 of the five-match series to be staged at the same venue of the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
India made three changes in their playing XI, including T20 World Cup winners Jaiswal, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson (12 not out off 7). Riyan Parag was left out of the team.
Jaiswal didn’t get a game in India’s T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados and hit four fours and two sixes as Gill pummeled seven boundaries and three sixes.
India were helped in their cause by Zimbabwe’s poor fielding as they conceded extra runs and dropping regulation catches throughout the innings. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani (2/25) was once again their most impressive bowler.
India got off to a rapid start at 49 for no loss in four overs, after which Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza got a breakthrough.
He induced a reverse sweep went from jaiswal that went into the hands of the backward point fielder after which last match’s centurion Abhishek Sharma was caught in the deep off Raza.
Gaikwad then batted authoritatively despit going into the middle at an unusual batting position. He nudged the spinners around in the middle overs and struck four boundaries and three sixes.
India beat Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in five-match series. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
