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India beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs in yesterday's T20I match at the Harare Sports Club. After suffering a shock upset by 13 runs in the first T20I, the Men in Blue lifted themselves up in impressive fashion to square the five-match series.
Batting first after winning the toss, India put up 234-2 as opener Abhishek Sharma went berserk, racing to a 46-ball ton. Ruturaj Gaikwad (77* off 44) also contributed a crucial knock. In their chase, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 134 in 18.4 overs as pacers Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar claimed three scalps each.
India got off to a poor start as skipper Shubman Gill fell for 2, whipping a full ball from Blessing Muzarabani straight to the fielder at mid-on. However, there was no joy for the hosts thereafter, as Abhishek and Gaikwad featured in a second-wicket stand of 137.
Zimbabwe had to pay a huge price for dropping Abhishek in the eighth over of the innings, when the left-hander was in his 20s. The Indian opener miscued a big hit off Luke Jongwe, but Wellington Masakadza, running in from long-off, made a mess of the chance.
Abhishek went on to slam Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza for a six and a four off the first two balls of the next over.
Twenty-eight runs came off the 11th over bowled by Dion Myers as the Men in Blue raced past the 100-mark.
Abhishek took a liking to Myers' medium pace, clobbering him for two sixes and three fours. The left-hander raced to a hundred with three consecutive sixes off Masakadza in the 14th over. He fell to the last ball of the same over, heaving at one and getting caught at short third man.
Gaikwad, who played second fiddle before Abhishek's dismissal, opened up, hitting 11 fours and a six. He featured in a whirlwind third wicket stand of 87* for the third wicket with Rinku Singh (48* off 22).
Mukesh, Avesh star with the ball
Defending a huge total of 234, pacers Mukesh and Avesh kept the pressure on Zimbabwe's batters as the hosts never got going. Mukesh knocked over Innocent Kaia (4) with one that nipped back in from a length. It was almost an action replay of Kaia's dismissal in the first T20I.
Brian Bennett (26 off 9) clobbered Mukesh for consecutive sixes in the third over but was cleaned up while attempting a third maximum. Avesh struck a double blow in the next over, dismissing Myers (0) and Raza (4).
Myers hit a length ball straight to short cover, while Raza was undone by a brute of a bouncer that he could only glove to the wicketkeeper.
Zimbabwe were five down for 72 when Johnathan Campbell (10) slog swept Washington Sundar to deep backward square leg.
Clive Madande (0) was trapped lbw by Bishnoi, while Masakadza's (1) horror game ended with a run out. Jongwe (33 off 26) delayed the inevitable, but the result was always a foregone conclusion.
Who was Player of the Match in yesterday’s India vs Zimbabwe T20I?
Playing in only his second T20I, Abhishek struck a sensational ton. Gaikwad and Rinku also impressed with the willow, while Mukesh and Avesh starred with the ball, claiming three wickets each.
For Zimbabwe, Muzarabani (1-30) was economical, while Wessly Madhevere scored 43 off 39 and Jongwe 33 off 26. Abhishek, though, was the easy choice for the Player of the Match for his scintillating hundred.
