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Team India's new-ball bowler Mukesh Kumar flattened Innocent Kaia's off-stump in the opening over of the 2nd T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday in Harare. The right-arm seamer had notably went for a boundary off the first ball.
Kaia smacked the first ball for a boundary on the on-side and defended the 2nd. However, he failed to get on the top of the nip-backer from Mukesh Kumar, leaving a big gap as the ball knocked back the off stump. It is also Kaia's second successive single-figure score after getting out for a duck in the previous game.
Mukesh also had a decent first game, taking figures of 3-0-16-1 to restrict the home side to 115-9 in 20 overs. However, the visitors failed to chase it down as Zimbabwe bowled and fielded brilliantly to skittle India out for 102 for a series lead.
Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad set a steep target for Zimbabwe before Mukesh Kumar's early strike
Meanwhile, the Men in Blue delivered a perfect riposte following a 13-run defeat as they put on a thunderous batting performance after Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first. While Gill departed cheaply, Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad didn't look back once they opened up.
Abhishek, who registered a duck on debut, got a reprieve minutes before reaching his half-century. The left-hander took all the bowlers to the cleaners, especially Dion Myers, who leaked 28 runs off the only over he sent down. The youngster got to his maiden international hundred with three sixes on the trot against Wellington Masakadza, but lost his wicket soon after. The 46-ball ton is also the fastest by an Indian in the format.
Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed an unbeaten 77 off 47 deliveries, while Rinku Singh also clobbered five sixes on his way to a 22-ball 48*.
