Rahane-led India beat Zimbabwe narrowly

India (Shar)made seven changes to their playing eleven – Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav made way for Ajinkya Rahane (who was leading the team), Murali Vijay, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa, Kedar Jadhav, Harbhajan Singh and Dhawal Kulkarni.

Zimbabwe made half-a-dozen Cha(tara)nges to the eleven that last played the Indians – Solomon Mire, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva, Tawanda Mupariwa and Tendai made way for Vusi Sibanda, Elton Chigumbura (who was leading the team, and inserted the visitors on winning the toss), Richmond Mutumbami, Graeme Cremer, Donald Tiripano and Brian Vitori.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 32, and lost a wicket.

Vijay, who faced nine balls, scored just a run. Twenty overs into the match, he was caught by Sibanda. Vitori broke the nine-run stand.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 133, and lost four wickets.

India scored 50 off 15.2 overs (92 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded a couple of extras at that point.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 54 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Rahane was batting on 29, Ambati Rayudu, the player of the match, was batting on 22.

The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 83 balls. While Rahane’s contribution to the partnership was 28, Rayudu’s contribution to it was 23. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership.

Rahane, whose 49-ball innings included five boundaries, eventually scored 34. Eighty-four balls after Vijay’s dismissal, he was caught by Hamilton Masakadza. Tiripano broke the 51-run partnership.

Tiwary, who faced 14 balls, scored just a couple. Twenty balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Chamu Chibhabha, who broke the 14-run stand.

The fourth-wicket pair put on three. Uthappa, who faced three balls, didn’t get off the mark. Five balls later, Sikandar Raza ran him out.

Jadhav, whose 13-ball innings included a boundary, scored just five. Seventeen balls later, he was caught by Mutumbami. Chibhabha broke the 10-run stand.

India scored 100 off 27 overs (162 balls). The number of extras they had conceded at that point gave Zimbabwe no reason to be in seventh heaven.

Rayudu’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 72 balls.

Thirty-one overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 111 for the loss of five wickets at that point. While Rayudu was batting on 55, Stuart Binny had scored half-a-dozen.

The sixth-wicket pair put on 50 off 66 balls. While Rayudu’s contribution to the partnership was 28, Binny’s contribution to it was 21. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

India scored 150 off 37.2 overs (224 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded eight extras at that point.

The sixth-wicket pair put on 100 off 116 balls. While Rayudu’s contribution to the partnership was 51, Binny’s contribution to it was 48. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Binny’s half-century – which included three boundaries and a six – came off 63 balls.

India scored 200 off 44.4 overs (268 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded eight extras at that point.

Rayudu’s ton – which included 10 boundaries and a six – came off 117 balls.

The sixth-wicket pair put on 150 off 142 balls. While Rayudu’s contribution to the partnership was 75, Binny’s contribution to it was 73. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored 90, and lost a wicket.

Binny, whose 76-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and a couple of sixes, eventually scored 77. A hundred and forty-seven balls after Jadhav’s dismissal, he was caught by Mutumbami. Tiripano broke the 160-run partnership.

India scored 250 off 49.3 overs (297 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded 10 extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

Rayudu, whose 133-ball innings included a dozen boundaries and a six, eventually scored 124. He was unbeaten, as was Axar Patel, who faced three balls, scoring a couple.

India scored 255 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 50 overs. Sean Williams, who bowled three wicketless overs, conceded 17. Tinashe Panyangara bowled 9.2 wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 53. Cremer, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 47.

Vitori, who bowled nine overs, conceded 63. He picked up a wicket. Tiripano bowled 8.4 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 48, picking up a couple of wickets. Chibhabha bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 25, picking up a couple of scalps.

The first Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 34, and lost a wicket.

Chibhabha, who faced a dozen balls, scored just three. Twenty-nine balls into the chase, he was caught by Rahane. Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke the 16-run stand.

The second Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 139, and lost five wickets.

Zimbabwe scored 50 off 13 overs (78 balls). India had conceded nine extras at that point.

Sibanda, whose 35-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, scored 20. Forty-five balls after Chibhabha’s dismissal, he was caught by Harbhajan. Binny broke the 31-run stand.

Eighteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. Zimbabwe had scored 66 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Masakadza was batting on 26, Chigumbura had scored eight.

Masakadza, whose 64-ball innings included four boundaries, eventually scored 34. Sixty-four balls after Sibanda’s dismissal, he was caught by Tiwary. Patel broke the 42-run stand.

Williams, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t get off the mark. Eight balls later, Patel broke the six-run stand.

Zimbabwe scored 100 off 25.4 overs (154 balls). India had conceded 10 extras at that point.

Raza, whose 33-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 37. Fifty-one balls later, he was caught by Patel. Harbhajan broke the 48-run stand.

Zimbabwe scored 150 off 35.1 overs (211 balls). India had conceded 10 extras at that point.

Thirty-seven overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. Zimbabwe had scored 159 for the loss of five wickets at that point. While Chigumbura was batting on 48, Mutumbami was in seventh heaven.

Chigumbura’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 65 balls.

Mutumbami, whose 16-ball innings included a boundary, didn’t add to the aforementioned score. Twenty-nine balls after Raza’s dismissal, he was caught by Harbhajan. Binny broke the 18-run stand.

The third Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored 78, and lost a wicket.

Zimbabwe scored 200 off 44 overs (264 balls). India had conceded 16 extras at that point.

The seventh-wicket pair put on 50 off 45 balls. While Chigumbura’s contribution to the partnership was 27, Cremer’s contribution to it was 17. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was half-a-dozen.

Chigumbura’s ton – which included eight boundaries and a six – came off 96 balls.

Cremer, whose 36-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 27. Sixty-eight balls after Mutumbami’s dismissal, he was caught by Binny. Kulkarni broke the 86-run partnership.

Zimbabwe scored 250 off 49.3 overs (297 balls). India had conceded 18 extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

Chigumbura, whose 101-ball innings included eight boundaries and a six, scored 104. He was unbeaten, as was Tiripano, who faced a ball, scored a run.

Zimbabwe, who scored 251 for the loss of seven wickets off 50 overs, lost by four runs. Tiwary bowled a wicketless over, conceding half-a-dozen.

Kulkarni bowled nine overs, conceding 60. He picked up a wicket, as did Harbhajan and Kumar, who bowled 10 overs apiece. While the former conceded 46, the latter, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 35.

Binny and Patel bowled 10 overs each, picking up two scalps apiece. While the former conceded 54, the latter, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 41.

India led the three-match series 1-0.