Rahane-led India beat Zimbabwe again

India made no changes to their playing eleven.

Zimbabwe made one change to their eleven that last played the Indians – Tinashe Panyangara made way for Neville Madziva.

On winning the toss, Elton Chigumbura, Zimbabwe’s skipper, inserted the visitors.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 39, without the loss of a wicket.

India’s openers put on 50 off 73 balls. While the contribution of Ajinkya Rahane, India’s skipper, to the partnership was 25, the contribution of Murali Vijay, the player of the match, to it was 20. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was five.

India’s openers scored 50 off 12.3 overs (75 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded four extras at that point. While Rahane’s contribution to the partnership was 26, Vijay’s contribution to it was 20.

Eighteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India’s openers had scored 68 at that point. While Rahane was batting on 36, Vijay was batting on 28.

Rahane’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 73 balls.

India’s openers scored 100 off 23.1 overs (139 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded four extras at that point. While Rahane’s contribution to the partnership was 59, Vijay’s contribution to it was 39.

Rahane, whose 83-ball innings included seven boundaries, eventually scored 63. Twenty-six overs into the match, he was caught by Sikandar Raza. Chamu Chibhabha broke the 112-run partnership.

Vijay’s half-century – which included a boundary – came off 81 balls.

India scored 150 off 31 overs (186 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded four overs at that point.

Vijay, whose 95-ball innings included a boundary and a couple of sixes, eventually scored 72. Forty-five balls after Rahane’s dismissal, he was caught by the substitute, Malcolm Waller. Madziva broke the 47-run stand.

Thirty-five overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 163 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Ambati Rayudu was batting on 23, Manoj Tiwary was batting on a run.

India scored 200 off 41.1 overs (247 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded half-a-dozen overs at that point.

Rayudu, whose 50-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 41. Fifty-one balls later, he was caught by Waller. Raza broke the 44-run stand.

Tiwary, whose 26-ball innings included a six, eventually scored 22. Three balls later, he was caught by Brian Vitori. Donald Tiripano broke the two-run stand.

Uthappa, whose 11-ball (Rob)innings included a boundary, scored 13. Twenty balls later, Madziva broke the 28-run stand.

India scored 250 off 47.3 overs (285 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded eight overs at that point.

Stuart Binny, whose 16-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 25. Seventeen balls after Uthappa’s dismissal, he was caught by Raza. Vitori broke the 31-run stand.

Kedar Jadhav, whose 13-ball innings included a boundary, scored 16. Three balls later, he was caught by Richmond Mutumbami. Madziva broke the two-run stand.

Harbhajan Singh, who faced four balls, scored five. He was unbeaten.

Axar Patel, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Four balls after Jadhav’s dismissal, he was caught by Raza. Madziva broke the three-run stand.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who didn’t face a ball, was unbeaten.

Zimbabwe eventually conceded 13 extras. India scored 271 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs. Hamilton Masakadza bowled four overs, conceding 26. He was wicketless, as were Graeme Cremer and Sean Williams, who bowled five overs apiece. While the former conceded 32, the latter conceded 23.

Raza bowled four overs, conceding 25. He picked up a wicket. Chibhabha bowled five overs, conceding 27. He picked up a wicket. Vitori bowled eight overs, conceding 47. He picked up a wicket. Tiripano bowled nine overs, conceding 42. He picked up a wicket. Madziva bowled 10 overs, conceding 49. He picked up four scalps.

The first Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 33, for the loss of a couple of wickets.

Vusi Sibanda, who faced 13 balls, scored just a couple. Thirty-one balls into the chase, he was caught by Vijay. Dhawal Kulkarni broke the 24-run stand.

Hamilton Masakadza, whose 11-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. Twenty-two balls later, he was caught by Uthappa. Needless to say, Kumar was in seventh heaven.

Chigumbura, whose six-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored nine. Thirteen balls later, he was caught by Rahane. Kumar broke the 12-run stand.

Zimbabwe scored 50 off 12.4 overs (76 balls). India had conceded four extras at that point.

Sixteen overs into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. Zimbabwe had scored 56 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Chibhabha was batting on 33, Williams had scored three.

Chibhabha’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 78 balls.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 81 balls. While Chibhabha’s contribution to the partnership was 30, Williams’ contribution to it was 20. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Williams, whose 37-ball innings included a boundary, failed to add to the aforementioned score. Fourteen overs after Chigumbura’s dismissal, Patel broke the 52-run partnership.

Zimbabwe scored 100 off 26.1 overs (157 balls). India had conceded four extras at that point.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 35. Chibhabha, whose 100-ball innings included nine boundaries, eventually scored 72. Thirty-seven balls after Williams’ dismissal, Rahane ran him out.

Raza, whose 22-ball innings included a boundary, scored 18. Four balls later, he was caught by Uthappa. Harbhajan broke the two-run stand.

Thirty-three overs into the chase, the second drinks break was taken. Zimbabwe had scored 134 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets at that point. While Mutumbami was batting on a run, Cremer had scored a couple.

Zimbabwe scored 150 off 38 overs (228 balls). India had conceded five extras at that point.

The seventh-wicket pair put on 50 off 75 balls. While Mutumbami’s contribution to the partnership was 31, Cremer’s contribution to it was 21. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership.

Mutumbami, whose 41-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 32. Seventy-six balls later, he was caught by Patel. Binny broke the 52-run partnership.

The eighth-wicket pair put on a couple. Madziva didn’t face a ball. A couple of balls later, Rahane ran him out.

Cremer, whose 42-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 27. Nine balls later, he was caught by Rahane. Kumar broke the run-a-ball stand.

Zimbabwe scored 200 off 47.3 overs (285 balls). India had conceded 10 extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

Tiripano, whose 13-ball innings included a boundary, scored half-a-dozen. Sixteen balls later, he was caught by Patel. Kumar broke the 14-run stand.

Vitori, whose nine-ball innings included a boundary, scored eight. He was unbeaten.

Zimbabwe, who were dismissed for 209 off 49 balls, lost by 62 runs. Vijay, who bowled three wicketless overs, conceded 18.

Binny, who bowled seven overs, conceded 42. He picked up a wicket. Kulkarni bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 39, picking up a wicket. Patel and Harbhajan bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former, whose spell including a maiden, conceded 40, the latter conceded 29.

Kumar bowled 10 overs, including three maidens. He conceded 33, picking up four scalps.

India led the three-match series 2-0. In fact, they win the series with a match to spare.