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HARARE, Zimbabwe. — Sanju Samson scored 58 as India beat Zimbabwe by 42 runs in their fifth Twenty20 at Harare Sports Club yesterday to win the five-match series 4-1.
Samson, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, hit four sixes in his 45-ball innings to help India score 167-6 in 20 overs after losing the toss and batting first.
In reply, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 125 runs in 18.3 overs with medium pacer Mukesh Kumar taking 4-22 in 3.3 overs.
Zimbabwe had won the first T20 by 13 runs, with India then rebounding with four consecutive wins. It won the second, third and fourth T20s by 100 runs, 23 runs, and 10 wickets, respectively.
India’s top-order batters got double-digit starts Sunday but couldn’t build on them.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 93 not out on Saturday, was bowled for 12 off five balls. Skipper Shubman Gill was caught for 13, while Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for 14 as India reached 40-3 in five overs.
Samson and Riyan Parag (22) added 65 off 56 balls for the fourth wicket and stabilized the innings as India crossed the 100-mark.
The acceleration came late and cost India a few wickets, with Samson holding ground at one end. Shivam Dube scored 26 off 12 balls, hitting two sixes, and putting on 30 off 19 balls for the fifth wicket.
Kumar disturbed Zimbabwe’s start as opener Wessly Madhevere was bowled for a three-ball duck. He also sent back Brian Bennett for 10 runs. Zimbabwe fought back with a 44-run partnership between Tadiwanashe Marumani (27) and Dion Myers (34).
Washington Sundar (1-7 in two overs) got the breakthrough in the ninth over, while Dube (2-25) dis-missed Myers.
The hosts couldn’t fight back thereafter, especially with captain Sikandar Raza run out for eight. Zimbabwe crashed from 85-3 to 94-7 in the space of 15 deliveries.
Faraz Akram scored 27 off 13 balls to take Zimbabwe past 100, but the hosts never looked like winning.
Gill was leading India this series for the first time. He called it an “excellent series” for the young side.
Speaking after the match, Shubman Gill said:
“Excellent series. I think the hunger that we should after losing the first match was fantastic to watch. When we came here not everyone had a lot of hits in the nets. We weren’t really used to the conditions. The way we adapted (was great).”
Zimbabwe captain, Sikandar Raza said:
“I thought Blessing (Muzarabani) bowled well the whole series. Batting-wise we are still below par. The grey area for me will remain our attitude in the field.”
Shivam Dube was adjudged player of the match:
“It’s always special to contribute, as an all-rounder, to contribute with both bat and ball. If you struggle (in T20s), one shot and you are back in the game. (The conditions) were good. We enjoyed playing here. Big boundaries, the atmosphere, the people here . . . it’s enjoyable.”
Washington Sundar was named Player of the Series and said:
“It was good today. Good to finish with a win. I felt after the first game it (the conditions) was very similar to South Africa, with extra speed and extra bounce. Lots of takeaways, lot of learnings, lot of confidence going into the Sri Lanka series.” — AP/ESPNCricinfo.
Online Reporter