3rd T20I
Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad along with Washington Sundar has helped India team to take 2-1 lead
India scored 182/4 in 20 Overs, where as Zimbabwe scored 159/6 in 20 Overs.
So, finally India beat Zimbabwe by 23 runs.
India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series with a 23-run win over Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Harare.
Washington Sundar was named Player of the Match for his bowling figures of 3 for 15, helping India defend a par total of 182.
What was the difference between the sides?
The fielding, clearly.
Sikandar Raza, speaking after the loss, mentioned conceding “20 extra runs” in the field, without which the contest would have been much tighter.
The hosts dropped at least three chances, with Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Yashasvi Jaiswal all getting reprieves.
Additionally, the ground fielding was generally poor.
In contrast, India took their catches and were excellent in the outfield.
India
Power Play: Fast start for India
Phase score: 55/0 (8x4s, 3x6s)
Zimbabwe started with an offspinner against Yashasvi Jaiswal, but it backfired as 15 runs were taken off the opening over.
Shubman Gill then took 14 runs off Richard Ngarava’s next over.
Tendai Chatara’s introduction also saw Jaiswal hitting a boundary and a six, with India at 41/0 after three overs.
Blessing Muzarabani’s introduction slowed things down a bit, with only 14 runs scored in the last three Power Play overs.
Zimbabwe’s sloppy fielding allowed India some extra runs.
Middle overs: Zimbabwe make a comeback
Phase score: 72/2 (7x4s, 2x6s)
Captain Raza’s introduction broke the 67-run opening stand, with Jaiswal falling to a reverse sweep.
Abhishek Sharma, batting in a new role, struggled and was caught on the legside boundary, also off Raza.
Ruturaj Gaikwad walked in next, but India lost momentum, scoring only 48 runs between overs 4 and 12.
However, Wessley Madhevere conceded 19 runs off the 13th over, with Gaikwad and Gill hitting a maximum each.
Death overs: Sloppy hosts allow India past 180
Phase score: 55/2 (4x4s, 3x6s)
Zimbabwe started this phase tightly, with Ngarava conceding only 3 runs off the 16th over.
But India attacked Raza in his final over, taking 18 runs.
Gill reached his fifty off 36 balls but fell trying to accelerate.
Gaikwad’s 29-ball 49 helped India reach 182/4, which Jaiswal called a “good score” on a “two-paced” pitch.
Zimbabwe
Power Play: Bowlers start well for India
Phase score: 37/3 (7x4s, 0x6s)
Zimbabwe mixed aggression with setbacks.
Khaleel Ahmed conceded early boundaries, but Avesh Khan dismissed Wessly Madhevere immediately.
Back-to-back wickets of Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brian Bennett hurt the hosts.
Sikandar Raza brought some stability, hitting consecutive boundaries, but the early damage was significant.
Middle overs: India’s lack of fifth bowler laid bare
Phase score: 73/3 (7x4s, 2x6s)
Washington Sundar’s introduction saw the wickets of Raza and Johnathan Campbell, leaving Zimbabwe at 49/5 after nine overs.
A 77-run stand between Dion Myers (65* off 49) and Clive Madande (37 off 26) revived the hosts.
They targeted Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube, scoring 50 runs off their combined 4 overs.
Madande hit Dube for back-to-back sixes in the 15th over, leaving 73 needed off the final five overs.
Death overs: Frontline bowlers secure win
Phase score: 49/1 (3x4s, 2x6s)
India’s frontline bowlers regained control.
Khaleel bowled the 16th over for just 2 runs, and Sundar (4-0-15-3) dismissed Madande.
Bishnoi conceded 16 runs in the 19th over, and Avesh gave away 18 runs in the final over.
However, tight overs at the start of this phase had already sealed the game for India.
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