Kohli-led India trounce Zimbabwe again

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Shikhar Dhawan and Vinay Kumar made way for a couple of One-day International debutants [Cheteshwar Pujara and Mohit, who was the player of the (Shar)match].

Zimbabwe made no changes to the eleven that last played the Indians.

On winning the toss, Virat Kohli, India’s skipper, inserted the hosts.

The first Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They had scored 35, and lost a wicket.

Although his 17-ball innings included a boundary, Sikandar Raza had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 40 balls into the match, he was caught by Dinesh Karthik. Mohit broke the 16-run stand.

The second-wicket pair put on 20. Hamilton Masakadza, whose 15-ball innings included a six, scored just 10. Twenty-four balls later, Ravindra Jadeja ran him out.

Brendan Taylor, Zimbabwe’s skipper, faced nine balls, failing to open his account. Nineteen balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Jadeja, who broke the eight-run stand.

Eighty-three balls into the match, the first drinks break was taken. Zimbabwe had scored 44 for the loss of three wickets at that point. Vusi Sibanda was batting on 21.

Sean Williams, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t get off the mark. Four balls later, Jaydev Unadkat broke the three-run stand.

The fifth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Sibanda, whose 45-ball innings included a boundary, eventually scored 24. Four balls later, he was dismissed by Jadeja.

Zimbabwe scored 50 off 17.3 overs (105 balls). India had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

The sixth-wicket pair put on 50 off 93 balls. While Malcolm Waller’s contribution to the partnership was 20, Elton Chigumbura’s contribution to it was 29. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Zimbabwe scored 100 off 32.1 overs (193 balls). The number of extras they had conceded at that point gave India no reason to be in seventh heaven.

Thirty-three overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. Zimbabwe had scored 101 for the loss of five wickets at that point. While Waller was batting on 23, Chigumbura was batting on 30.

The second Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings – which was the batting Powerplay – was between the 36^th and the 40^th over. They had scored 21, and lost a couple of wickets.

Waller, whose 77-ball innings included three boundaries and a six, eventually scored 35. A hundred and thirty-one balls after Sibanda’s dismissal, he was caught by Karthik. Mohit broke the 80-run partnership.

Chigumbura’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 66 balls. He was unbeaten.

Prosper Utseya, who faced a dozen balls, scored just a run. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by Rohit Sharma. Mohammed Shami broke the three-run stand.

Tendai Chatara, whose half-a-dozen balls, scored just a run. Nine balls later, he was caught by Jadeja. Amit Mishra broke the three-run stand.

Brian Vitori, whose six-ball innings included a six, scored eight. Ten balls later, Mishra broke the run-a-ball stand.

The last-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Michael Chinouya, who faced a ball, didn’t open the account. The next ball, he was caught by Kohli off the bowling of Mishra.

India eventually conceded eight extras. Zimbabwe were dismissed for 144 off 42.4 overs. Unadkat, who bowled seven overs, conceded 27. He picked up a wicket, as was Shami, who bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 34.

Jadeja bowled nine overs, included a maiden. He conceded 28, picking up a couple of wickets. Mohit bowled 10 overs, included three maidens. He conceded 26, picking up a couple of wickets. Mishra bowled 8.4 overs, conceding 25. He picked up three wickets.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They had scored 23, and lost a wicket.

Pujara, whose 24-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 13. Fifty-seven balls into the chase, Chatara broke the 23-run stand.

India scored 50 off 14 overs (84 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded an extra at that point.

Eighteen overs into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 65 for the loss of a wicket at that point. Both Rohit and Suresh Raina were batting on 25 apiece.

The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 61 balls. While Rohit’s contribution to the partnership was 17, Raina’s contribution to it was 31. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

India scored 100 off 25.2 overs (152 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded three extras at that point.

While Rohit’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 84 balls, Raina’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 60 balls.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 30^th and the 34^th over. They had scored 26, without the loss of a wicket.

The second-wicket pair put on 100 off 120 balls. While Rohit’s contribution to the partnership was 43, Raina’s contribution to it was 54. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was three. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

Rohit, whose 90-ball innings included five boundaries and a six, eventually scored 64. He was unbeaten, as Raina, who eventually scored 65. His 71-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries.

India, who scored 145 for the loss of a wicket off 30.5 overs, won by nine wickets off 115 balls. Waller bowled a wicketless over, conceding three. Chigumbura bowled two wicketless overs, conceding 12.

Williams and Chinouya bowled four wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 21, the latter conceded 14. Vitori bowled 5.5 wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 21. Utseya, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 42. Chatara bowled five overs, including a maiden. He conceded 31, picking up the only wicket to fall.

India led the five-match series 4-0.