India tour of Zimbabwe 2016: Best performances by Zimbabwe cricketers against India in ODIs
At the turn of the millenium, if there was one team that the cricket world was looking forward to see do well, it was Zimbabwe. In the period between 1999 World Cup and 2003, Zimbabwe made steep progress, aided by some of the finest cricketers ever produced by the country in the Flower brothers, Heath Streak and Alistair Campbell.
It was playing more cricket than in the past and was no more a minnow who could be taken lightly. Then the 2003 World Cup happened and in it took place the black armband protest by Henry Olonga and Andy Flower. Since then Zimbabwe’s cricket has plummeted to depths and brilliant performances by their cricketers have been far and few.
Ahead of the bilateral ODI series against India, here is a look at some of the best performances by Zimbabwe cricketers in their encounters with Indians
1. 138 by Brendan Taylor, Auckland, 2015
Brendan Taylor was playing his last ODI for Zimbabwe and saw his team tottering at 33-3 when he decided enough was enough. He joined forces with Sean Williams and went on smashing the Indian bowlers all around the Eden Park in Auckland to compile a good looking 138 that lifted the team to 287. His knock was studded with 15 fours and 5 biggies.
The right-hander later admitted that it was the best he had batted in his 11 year Zimbabwe career. However, as so often in his career, his best efforts came to naught as his bowlers made a meal of a strong target of 287.
After having India on the mat at one stage in the chase, Zimbabwe failed to deliver the knockout punch as Dhoni and Raina stitched a 196 run partnership to see India through. Irrespective of the result of the match, Taylor’s fine innings will go down as one of the best played by a Zimbabwean in ODIs.