In a pivotal match held in Harare, India secured a crucial 23-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third T20I of a five-match series, thereby taking a 2-1 lead. Washington Sundar’s exceptional performance with the ball saw him named Player of the Match, thanks to his impressive figures of 3 for 15, which were instrumental in defending a par total of 182.
**What Made the Difference?**
The gap between the two sides was evident in their fielding performances. Sikandar Raza, speaking post-match, highlighted the 20 extra runs conceded by Zimbabwe through fielding lapses, which proved to be a game-changer. At least three catches went down, offering reprieves to Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. On the other hand, India excelled in their fielding, taking virtually every opportunity that came their way and maintaining exceptional ground fielding standards.
**India’s Innings:**
**PowerPlay: Rapid Start**
India got off to a flying start, scoring 55 runs without losing any wickets in the PowerPlay. Yashasvi Jaiswal, back in the squad after a brief return home, partnered with Shubman Gill at the top of the order. Zimbabwe’s tactic to start with an offspinner against Jaiswal backfired as he took 15 runs off the first over. Gill continued the onslaught by scoring 14 runs off Richard Ngarava in the next over. Tendai Chatara’s introduction didn’t help either, with Jaiswal smashing him for both a boundary and a six. However, Zimbabwe managed to slow things down with the introduction of Blessing Muzarabani, restricting India to only 14 runs in the last three PowerPlay overs.
**Middle Overs: A Brief Comeback by Zimbabwe**
Zimbabwe clawed back into the game during the middle overs, limiting India to 72/2 in this period. The breakthrough came from captain Sikandar Raza, who dismissed Jaiswal after a dropped chance three balls earlier. Abhishek Sharma, assuming a new role in the middle order, couldn’t find his rhythm and fell to Raza as well. Ruturaj Gaikwad then joined Gill, but the duo found it challenging to accelerate, adding only 48 runs from the 4th to 12th over. Just when it seemed Zimbabwe had gained control, Wessley Madhevere’s over was taken apart for 19 runs, with both batsmen hitting a six each.
**Death Overs: India Push Past 180**
Zimbabwe initially held India in check during the death overs, with Ngarava giving away just 3 runs in the 16th over.
. However, India retaliated by taking 18 runs off Raza’s last over. Gill, who reached his fifty off 36 balls, was eventually caught at mid-off by Raza himself. Gaikwad narrowly missed his fifty, scoring a brisk 29-ball 49, which enabled India to reach a competitive total of 182/4. Reflecting on the innings, Jaiswal described 182 as a “good score” on a two-paced pitch.
**Zimbabwe’s Innings:**
**PowerPlay: Early Wickets for India**
Zimbabwe’s reply started with a mix of aggression from Tadiwanashe Marumani but suffered setbacks as India’s bowlers struck. Khaleel Ahmed conceded some early boundaries, but Avesh Khan’s introduction saw immediate results, dismissing Wessly Madhevere. The quick succession of wickets—Marumani and Brian Bennett falling within four balls—left Zimbabwe reeling. Bishnoi took a spectacular catch at backward point to dismiss Bennett. While Raza tried to stabilize the innings with consecutive boundaries and achieving the milestone of 5000 T20 runs, the early damage had already been inflicted.
**Middle Overs: Zimbabwe Fight Back**
Initially, India dominated with Washington Sundar knocking off key wickets of Raza and Johnathan Campbell immediately after the PowerPlay. Zimbabwe seemed down and out at 49/5 after nine overs. However, Dion Myers and Clive Madande initiated a fightback with a 77-run partnership. Myers remained unbeaten on 65 off 49 balls, while Madande contributed 37 off 26, targeting Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube, who together conceded 50 runs in four overs. Madande’s back-to-back sixes off Dube in the 15th over provided some hope for the hosts, leaving them needing 73 runs off the last five overs.
**Death Overs: India Tighten the Noose**
As soon as India’s frontline bowlers returned, the balance tilted sharply in their favor. Khaleel’s 16th over conceded only 2 runs, followed by Sundar, who dismissed Madande in the 17th over with a catch taken by Rinku Singh in the deep. Although Bishnoi leaked 16 runs in the 19th over and Avesh gave away 18 runs in the final over, India’s disciplined bowling in the initial death overs ensured that the game was effectively sealed.
**Brief Scores:**
India 182/4 (Shubman Gill 66, Ruturaj Gaikwad 49; Sikandar Raza 2-24, Blessing Muzarabani 2-25) defeated Zimbabwe 159/6 (Dion Myers 65*; Washington Sundar 3-15, Avesh Khan 2-39) by 23 runs.