A clinical bowling performance from India saw them beat Zimbabwe by 62 runs and take a 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. India’s series win comes after Ajinkya Rahane (63) and Murali Vijay (72) scored half-centuries in the first innings to take India to 271 for 8 in 50 Overs. Ambati Rayudu and Stuart Binny too chipped in with vital runs lower down the order.
In reply, Zimbabwe managed to score only 209 in 49 overs as the bowlers maintained their stranglehold on the opposition throughout the entire duration of the hosts’ innings. Losing three wickets in the first 11 overs including skipper and last match’s centurion Elton Chigumbura (9) turned the match decisively in India’s favour. Chamu Chibhabha (72, 100 balls) top-scored but that was never going to enough for the home team to cross the finishing line in this match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 33 in 10 overs and along with Dhawal Kulkarni (1/39 in 9 overs) provided initial breakthroughs while spinners Harbhajan Singh (1/29 in 10 overs) and Axar Patel (1/40 in 10 overs) kept a tight leash on batsmen during the middle overs.
After a couple of quiet overs upfront, Rahane drove Brian Vitori through the covers stating intent as the opening pair dropped anchor to get India off to a good start. Coming to bat at the top of the order, the captain drove the ball skillfully to the fence while Vijay too found the gaps to add to the scoreboard. Both batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking with decisive running between the wickets.
Nudging, pushing and driving with ease, Rahane was the first to reach the half-century mark with a boundary to mid-wicket; while Vijay played the perfect foil to his partner to build the Indian innings. The openers milked the bowlers steadily without any hiccups or fireworks until Chamu Chibhabha ended the stand. A leading edge from the skipper lobbed towards cover and Sikandar Raza coming in took the catch send Rahane back.
Vijay, who was watchfully collecting runs at the other end then, brought up his maiden ODI fifty with two to mid-wicket. With Ambati Rayudu, the opener then looked to increase the run rate. Stepping down the track, Vijay slammed Chibhabha over long-off for six and in the next Vitori sailing straight down for a straight six. The flourishing stand however halted for 47 with Neville Madziva, brought back into the attack claiming Vijay. Looking to hit over the top, the opener departed mis-timing the slower delivery and a fumbling Waller took the catch.
Rayudu and Manoj Tiwary took their chances while working to add to the platform built by the openers. While the pair ran some risky singles, the No 3 bat looking to clear the fence was let off by Vitori at long-on of Hamilton Masakadza on 26. Although the singles continued to flow in and they maintained a steady run rate, the big hits didn’t come as often. In the effort to clear the ropes, Rayudu departed after having taken the team past 200. Looking to heave the Raza over the fence, he was caught at deep mid-wicket by Waller, who was fielding substitute for Sean Williams.
Tiwary followed him back; flicking Donald Tiripano towards fine leg and was caught by Vitori. With India on 205 for four and seven and half overs left, Stuart Binny joined Robin Uthappa. With the innings approaching its business end the pair needed to add quick runs and both claimed a boundary each off the spinner Raza. However, Madziva replacing the off-spinner yorked Uthappa to leave India on 233 for five.
Needing to score quick runs Binny whacked Tiripano though cover for four and slammed Madziva over point, Kedar Jadhav too struck the pacer to the fence. However, a forward diving catch by Raza running towards long-on sent Binny (25 off 16) back in the pen-ultimate over. Jadhav swinging his bat sent the ball high in the air and was caught by the wicketkeeper in the next and Axar Patel perished for one with a ball left.
In the second innings, the bowling contingent too got off to a good start with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni bowling with the new ball. Although Kulkarni was slammed for three boundaries by Chibhabha after bowling a maiden first up, the bowler gave India their first
breakthrough with the wicket of Vusi Sibanda in his next. The opener hit the ball straight to point and seven runs later Bhuvneshwar claimed Masakadza to take his ODI wickets tally to 50. The top-order bat edged the away going delivery to Uthappa behind the stumps. In the bowler’s next, he forced an edge from Elton Chigumbara and his opposite number pouched a superb catch diving to his right in the slips to leave the hosts on 43 for three.
Williams, who then came out to bat was dropped on two off Harbhajan as fielders collided while attempting to take the skier. He survived close calls and fielding lapses before his shaky knock was ended by Axar Patel.
Fighting to keep the series alive, Chibhabha meanwhile posted a determined fifty and worked to keep the hosts in the fray.
With spinners getting purchase from the wicket, Rahane opted to bowl Vijay’s off-spin to tie the batsmen down. With the run rate creeping up both batsmen looked to take on the bowlers, but as the partnership began to take shape, a direct hit by Rahane ran Chibhabha out. Later in the over, Harbhajan accounted for Raza to put India in command.
Coming together at 132 for six, Richmond Mutumbami and Graeme Cremer built a 52-run stand until the former holed out to long-off after hitting Binny for couple of boundaries. Another direct hit from Rahane at short cover ran out Madziva. Bhuvneshwar then got the better off Cremer and in his next to wrap-up the match with the wicket of Tiripano.
Brief scores
India 271 for 8 in 50 Overs (Ajinkya Rahane 63, Murali Vijay 72; Neville Madziva 4 for 49, Sikandar Raza 1 for 25) beat Zimbabwe 209 in 49 Overs (Chamu Chibhabha 72, Richard Mutumbami 32; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4 for 33) by 62 runs.
Man of the Match: Murali Vijay for his innings of 72.
