Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE surrendered the Twenty20 International series with a match to spare after a poor all-round performance condemned them to a 90-run defeat against India at Harare Sports Club yesterday. Chevrons coach Justin Sammons admitted his players had failed to stick to their bowling plans and made costly decisions with the bat as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
“I think we didn’t perform well in all areas this series,” Sammons said.
“Certainly with the ball, we didn’t stick to our plans for long enough. With the bat, it came down to some poor decision-making in crucial moments.
“There was an improvement in the fielding from the Bangladesh series, but there were still moments where we let ourselves down.
“Decision-making is key and we just didn’t do well today.”
After being sent in to bat by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, India posted 219/5 from their 20 overs before dismissing the hosts for 129. Ishan Kishan led India’s charge with 81 runs off 44 balls, while vice-captain Tilak Varma struck 60 off 29.
Kishan first shared a third-wicket partnership of 66 runs off 42 balls with Shreyas Iyer before adding 94 off 44 with Varma for the fourth wicket.
The pair combined for 14 fours and five sixes as Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to contain India through the middle and closing overs.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had earlier set the tone with 20 runs off nine balls, including three fours and a six.
He took 18 runs from Richard Ngarava’s first over before the left-arm seamer removed him with the final delivery, Sooryavanshi pulling a short ball to Blessing Muzarabani at mid-on.
Zimbabwe’s five wickets were shared by Muzarabani, Ngarava, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri and Brian Bennett.
Faced with a target of 220, Zimbabwe lost Ben Curran for one before Bennett gave the chase early momentum with 32 from 19 balls.
His innings included three fours and three sixes, but ended when he edged Yash Thakur to Kishan behind the stumps.
Dion Myers was bowled by Ravi Bishnoi for 12, while Raza edged Prince Yadav to Kishan for a three-ball duck.
Wessly Madhevere followed for two as Zimbabwe slipped to 65/5 after eight overs.
Ryan Burl and Tadiwanashe Marumani added 17 runs for the sixth wicket before Burl’s attempted slog off Varma found Rinku Singh on the boundary.
Burl made 20 off 18 balls.
Marumani scored 24 from 19 deliveries and briefly combined with Evans and Nyamhuri, but India continued to take regular wickets and dismissed Zimbabwe with 11 balls remaining.
Abhishek Sharma was India’s most successful bowler with 3/17, while Thakur and Yadav claimed two wickets each.
Bishnoi, Shivam Dube and Varma took one wicket apiece.
Zimbabwe will now play to avoid a series whitewash in the third and final match at the same venue today.
“We are still playing the world champions,” Sammons said.
“The opportunity is still there, but we have got to be at our best to give ourselves some sort of chance.
“The guys are disappointed with the way things have gone and will want to improve.”
