Finance
Blistering half-centuries from wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan and vice-captain Tilak Varma set up India’s overwhelming 90-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, giving them an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Kishan’s blazing 81 off 44 balls and Varma’s undefeated 60 off 29 deliveries laid the groundwork for India’s impressive score of 219/5 after being sent in to bat first. The imposing mark was too much for Zimbabwe, who were bowled out for 129 in 17.5 overs.
The decisive victory also marked Shreyas Iyer’s maiden series win as India’s T20I captain. Batting all-rounder Abhishek Sharma, who bowls left-arm spin, starred with the ball by taking 3-17 as the Indian attack comfortably defended the score despite losing fast bowler Prince Yadav to an early hamstring injury.
Kishan’s knock included 46 runs from mid-wicket and long-on regions, when he used the pull shot to perfection. Varma, on the other hand, delivered the right late flourish, scoring 16 runs off the cut shot to help India cross the 210-run barrier.
Both batters regularly shuffled across their creases to line with pitches outside the off stump, allowing them to draw and sweep the ball freely over the outfield. For Zimbabwe, it was a forgettable day with the ball, as everyone returned with an economy rate of eight or above and went too far in their lengths.
After being pushed to bat first, Abhishek Sharma hit back-to-back boundaries off Sikandar Raza in the first over to get India off to a good start, but Blessing Muzarabani turned the tide in the second over, removing him for eight after the opener spliced a back-of-a-length delivery straight to backward point.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, fresh from his first T20I fifty, attempted to counterattack by launching Richard Ngarava for a six and three boundaries in a 19-run third over, with the pull shot paying off handsomely. But Ngarava got his revenge on the final ball, catching Sooryavanshi off his own bowling for 20.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer and Kishan stabilized the innings, but Brian Bennett broke the 42-run partnership in the tenth over when Iyer mistimed a cut ball to backward point and was out for 25. Kishan then seized over with a disciplined shot selection, reaching his half-century in 33 balls before launching a spectacular assault on Zimbabwe’s bowling attack.
Together with Varma, the duo contributed 94 runs for the fourth wicket. Kishan’s scorching knock ended in the 18th over, when he miscued to deep point off Nyamhuri after hitting nine fours and two sixes.
Varma then took up the pace, reaching his fifty in 23 balls, while Rinku Singh chipped in with a quickfire 12 before falling to Evans, and Shivam Dube closed the innings with a four off the penultimate ball to push India above 210 runs.
Brian Bennett struck six boundaries while chasing 220, with the scoop shot standing out. However, the scoop shot proved to be his undoing when he mistimed one off Thakur and gave a routine catch to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, falling for 32 from 19 balls.
Prince made an immediate effect with his first ball of the fifth over, dismissing Ben Curran for one when the opener mishit a draw off a hard length and was taken by third man.
Skipper Sikandar Raza was dismissed for a three-ball duck after attempting a crazy swing at a length ball from Prince, which resulted in a thick edge caught behind by Kishan. But, just as Prince was about to bowl his third delivery, he pulled up with a left hamstring injury and went off the field, leaving Shivam Dube to finish the over.
Dube ultimately struck in the ninth over, when Wessly Madhevere made a straightforward catch at mid-on, and Tilak Varma’s magnificent game continued with Ryan Burl holing out to long-on.
While Thakur claimed Tadiwanashe Marumani, Abhishek came in to castle Brad Evans and Newman Nyamhuri in short succession before Richard Ngarava holed out to long-on to seal a comfortable victory for India.
Brief scores:
India 219/5 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 81, Tilak Varma 60 not out; Brian Bennett 1-22, Newman Nyamhuri 1-25) beat Zimbabwe 129 all out in 17.5 overs (Brian Bennett 32, Tadiwanashe Marumani 24; Abhishek Sharma 3-17, Prince Yadav 2-10) by 90 runs
Source: IANS
