Dhoni-led India beat Zimbabwe comprehensively

India made just one change to their playing eleven – Karun Nair made way for One-day International debutant Faiz Fazal.

Zimbabwe (Maru)made five Cha(tara)nges to the eleven that last played the Indians – Peter Moor, Sikandar Raza, Tendai, Taurai Muzarabani and Sean Williams made way for Timycen, Malcolm Waller, Neville Madziva, Tawanda Mupariwa and Donald Tiripano. 

On winning the toss, Graeme Cremer, Zimbabwe’s skipper, chose to bat.

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

Hamilton Masakadza, whose 18-ball innings included a boundary, scored just eight. Thirty-three balls into the match, he was caught by Lokesh Rahul, the player of the match. Dhawal broke the (Kulkar)nineteen-run stand.

The second Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 85, and lost eight wickets.

Seventeen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. Zimbabwe had scored 49 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Chamu Chibhabha was batting on 24, Vusi Sibanda was batting on 11.

Zimbabwe scored 50 off 17.2 overs (105 balls). India had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

Chibhabha, whose 66-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 27. Eighty-eight balls after Masakadza’s dismissal, he was caught by Jasprit Bumrah. Yuzvendra Chahal broke the 36-run stand.

Sibanda, whose 71-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, eventually scored 38. Fifty-one balls later, he was caught by Chahal, who broke the 34-run stand.

Zimbabwe scored 100 off 31.2 overs (189 balls). India had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

Maruma, whose 29-ball innings included a boundary, scored 17. Twenty-five balls later, Bumrah broke the 15-run stand.

The fifth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Elton Chigumbura, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s skipper, off the bowling of Bumrah.

The sixth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Waller, who faced 15 balls, scored eight. The next ball, Rahul and Dhoni ran him out.

The seventh-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Cremer, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was trapped leg before wicket by Axar Patel.

Richmond Mutumbami, who faced three balls, scored four. His runs came by way of a boundary. Seven balls later, he was caught by Rahul. Bumrah broke the four-run stand.

It was at that point that the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 108 for the loss of eight wickets at that point. Madziva hadn’t opened his account. He eventually faced 26 balls, and was unbea‘ten’.

Mupariwa, who faced nine balls, scored a run. Thirteen balls later, he was caught by Manish Pandey. Bumrah broke the two-run stand.

The third Powerplay of Zimbabwe’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored half-a-dozen, and lost a wicket.

The last-wicket pair put on 13. Tiripano, who faced 16 balls, scored just a couple. Thirty-four balls after Mupariwa’s dismissal, Kulkarni ran him out.

India eventually conceded eight extras. Zimbabwe were bundled out for 123 off 42.2 overs.

Barinder Sran bowled eight wicketless overs, conceding 40.

Kulkarni bowled 6.2 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 17, picking up a wicket.

Patel bowled 10 overs, including two maidens. He conceded 16, picking up a wicket.

Chahal bowled eight overs, conceding 25. He picked up two wickets.

Bumrah bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 22, picking up four scalps.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 43, without the loss of a wicket.

Seven overs into the match, the lunch break was taken. India had scored 23 without the loss of a wicket at that point. While Rahul was batting on eight, Fazal was batting on 11.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 83, without the loss of a wicket.

India’s openers put on 50 off 12.4 overs (76 balls). The number of extras they had conceded at that point gave Zimbabwe no reason to be in seventh heaven. While Rahul was batting on 21, Fazal was batting on 24.

Rahul’s half-century – who scored four boundaries and a six – came off 58 balls.

India’s openers put on 100 off 18.5 overs (113 balls). Zimbabwe had conceded eight extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded. While Rahul was batting on 51, Fazal was batting on 44.

Fazal’s half-century – who scored half-a-dozen boundaries and a six – came off 58 balls.

Rahul, whose 70-ball innings included four boundaries and a couple of sixes, eventually scored 63. He was unbeaten, as was Fazal, who eventually scored 55. His 61-ball innings included seven boundaries and a six.

Fazal, who hasn’t represented India in any form of cricket since, does not have an average.

India, who scored 126 without the loss of a wicket off 21.5 overs, won by 10 wickets with 169 balls to spare.

Chibhabha bowled 11 wicketless balls, conceding 15.

Cremer bowled four wicketless overs, conceding 26.

Madziva and Tiripano bowled five wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 25, the latter, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 15.

Mupariwa bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceding 43.

India won the three-match series 3-0.