Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S batting frailties were laid bare again as the Chevrons slumped to a seven-wicket defeat to World champions India in the opening game of their cricket T20 three-match series at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Put in to bat, Zimbabwe struggled to 125/7.
The hosts’ innings only reached triple figures thanks to Wessly Madhevere 39 off 34 and Tadiwanashe Marumani 27 off 20, who put on *58 off 37 for the sixth wicket.
India’s seamers ripped through the top order early.
Three of Zimbabwe’s top-order batters failed to reach double figures, including debutant Brian Bennett (0), Dion Myers (6), and skipper Sikandar Raza (4).
Debutant Ben Curran was reunited with Bennett, his partner from Test and One Day Internationals.
Unfortunately, their budding union did not last long as Bennett was sent back to the pavilion after edging a Mayank Yadav delivery to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps for a one-ball duck.
Curran soon joined him as the debutant pulled a Prince Yadav delivery to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at mid-wicket for 10 runs off eight balls.
Zimbabwe were then in a spot of trouble as they lost the wickets of Myers and Raza and were left reeling at 32/4 after seven overs.
The Chevrons set about resurrecting their innings with two crucial partnerships.
The first was a fifth-wicket stand between Ryan Burl and Madhevere that yielded 32 runs off 35 balls.
Madhevere then combined with Marumani to add another 58 runs, which helped Zimbabwe pass the 100-run mark.
Madhevere top-scored for Zimbabwe with 39 off 34 balls while Marumani chipped in with an unbeaten 27 off 20 balls.
Burl also had a short cameo, putting up 26 off 36 balls.
Prince and Mayank Yadav were the pick of the India bowlers, each taking two wickets, while Shivam Dube and Ravi Bishnoi finished with a scalp each. India’s chase was short but memorable, with Sooryavanshi putting on a show.
The 15-year-old opener scored his maiden international half-century with an innings that was an exhibition of big hitting.
The teen sensation was back at the scene of his 80-ball 175 in the 2026 Under-19 World Cup final earlier this year, and he put on a dazzling display to make light work of the modest chase.
Sooryavanshi’s 50 off 19 balls featured four boundaries and four sixes as he hit Zimbabwe’s bowlers all over the park.
The Sooryavanshi party lasted about six overs and brought smiles to the home fans when it ended, as the 15-year-old spooned a Richard Ngarava delivery to Curran at deep.
However, the damage had already been done, with India well on their way to victory at 68/2.
He featured in a key partnership at the top of the order, putting on 45 off 21 balls alongside Kishan.
Kishan then added another 46 off 31 balls alongside his skipper, Shreyas Iyer, that put the visitors within touching distance of the target.
India finished on 126/3 with 40 balls remaining, as Sooryavanshi top-scored for the visitors with 50 off 19 balls.
Kishan and Iyer also chipped in with handy knocks of 35 off 24 balls and 28 off 24 balls, respectively. Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with two for 26 runs, while Ngarava chipped in with one for 30 runs.
The Zimbabwe camp appeared gutted after the match, but Madhevere still believes the Chevrons can bounce back.
