IND vs ZIM 2024, 1st T20I: Who won yesterday’s India vs Zimbabwe match?
Zimbabwe beat India by 13 runs in yesterday's T20I match at the Harare Sports Club. This result meant that the Men in Blue succumbed to defeat in their first match since being crowned T20 World Cup champions.
Led by Shubman Gill, Team India decided to bowl first after winning the toss. They did a good job to restrict Zimbabwe to 115-9 as leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi starred with 4-13. India's batting, however, crumbled in response as they were all out for 102 in 19.5 overs. Tendai Chatara (3-16) and skipper Sikandar Raza (3-25) came up with excellent bowling efforts.
Chasing 116, India got off to a disastrous start and lost six wickets for 47 runs inside 11 overs. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck on debut as he top-edged a pull off Brian Bennett. Ruturaj Gaikwad (7) felt for one outside off from Blessing Muzarabani and was nicely caught by Innocent Kaia at slip.
Tendai Chatara sent back another Indian debutant Riyan Parag (2) and Rinku Singh (0) in the fifth over. Both batters played miscued strokes before they could get their eye in. Dhruv Jurel (6), also playing in his first T20I, chipped an off-cutter from Luke Jongwe to extra cover as India lost half-their side for 43.
The telling blow was delivered by Raza, who knocked over his opposite number Gill (31 off 29) with a well-directed length ball. Washington Sundar (27 off 34) tried to salvage the situation, but could not get the big hits consistently enough and was the last man out, falling to Chatara as Zimbabwe celebrated a famous win.
Bishnoi claims 4, but Madande lifts Zimbabwe to 115-9
Sent into bat, Zimbabwe lost Kaia for a golden duck as he was cleaned up by a jaffa from Mukesh Kumar. Wessly Madhevere (21 off 22) and Bennett (22 off 15) got starts, but both were bowled, falling to the guile of Bishnoi. Zimbabwe skipper Raza (17) was the next to go as he holed out to deep midwicket off Avesh Khan.
Disaster struck for Zimbabwe as Johnathan Campbell (0) was run out following a horrible mix-up with Dion Myers (23). The latter was the next to go, chipping a return catch to Sundar. The hosts kept losing wickets at one end, but Clive Madande (29* off 25) played a defiant knock to push Zimbabwe to 115.
Who was Player of the Match in yesterday’s India vs Zimbabwe T20I?
Four Zimbabwe batters - Madhevere, Bennett, Myers, and Madande - contributed 20s. With the ball, skipper Raza and Chatara picked up three scalps each.
For India, Bishnoi produced superb figures of 4-13. Sundar picked up 2-11 and contributed 27 with the bat. Gill top-scored for India in the chase with 31.
Raza was named Player of the Match for his 3-25 and 17 off 19 balls.