In a thrilling encounter at Harare, Zimbabwe clinched victory over new-looking India by 13 runs in the 1st T20I of the series on July 6, 2024. This match saw India fielding a different playing XI from their World Cup-winning team, with debuts for Dhruv Jurel, Abhishek Sharma, and Riyan Parag.
Zimbabwe, batting first, posted a modest total of 115 for 9 in their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a series of starts, with Dion Myers scoring 23 and Clive Madande remaining unbeaten on 29. However, the standout performance came from Ravi Bishnoi, who was exceptional with the ball, taking 4 wickets for just 13 runs in his 4 overs. Washington Sundar also contributed significantly, picking up 2 wickets for 11 runs. Despite these efforts, Zimbabwe managed to cross the 100-run mark, thanks to some resilient lower-order batting.
How did new-looking India perform?
India’s chase got off to a shaky start with Abhishek Sharma falling for a duck. The top order struggled against Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling attack. Captain Shubman Gill top-scored with 31 runs off 29 balls but found little support from the other end. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Riyan Parag, both fell cheaply, with Parag scoring just 2 runs. The middle-order collapse saw India reeling at 22 for 4 within 5 overs.
Washington Sundar tried to steady the ship with a patient 27 off 34 balls, but the wickets kept tumbling around him. Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe’s captain, led from the front with a superb all-round performance. He took 3 crucial wickets for 25 runs, including the key scalps of Gill and Mukesh Kumar. Tendai Chatara was also instrumental, picking up 3 wickets for 16 runs, effectively dismantling India’s batting lineup.
Avesh Khan’s brief cameo of 16 runs off 12 balls provided a glimmer of hope, but it was too little, too late. The Indian innings folded for 102 in 19.5 overs, falling short by 13 runs. This victory was a significant achievement for Zimbabwe, with Sikandar Raza being named the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. Brian Bennett also made a notable impact, contributing both with the bat and the ball.
This match highlighted the challenge for new-looking India, emphasizing the need for the debutants to acclimatize quickly to international cricket. As the series progresses, India will look to bounce back and adjust their strategies to better handle Zimbabwe’s tactics.
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