India secured a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe by winning the first match with spectacular ease. KL Rahul’s men handed the Chevrons a comprehensive 10-wicket defeat.
A target of 190 was very unlikely to trouble the Indians, but a few early wickets could have brought Zimbabwe back into the game. That, however, was not to be, as openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill ensured the men in blue crossed the finish line without losing any wickets.
Both Dhawan and Gill are among the numerous contenders for the only available opening slot in the Indian ODI team, with regular skipper Rohit Sharma occupying the other place. Hence, every match is an opportunity to impress the selectors, and the duo did well to give a great account of themselves in this match.
While Dhawan played the role of an anchor and accumulated 81 runs from 113 deliveries, Gill donned the hat of an aggressor, scoring 82 runs off 72 balls.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers also did their job with commendable efficiency to restrict the hosts to a meagre total of 189. Making a comeback in the side, Deepak Chahar dismissed both of Zimbabwe’s openers, Innocent Kaia ad Tadiwanashe Marumani, inside the ninth over. Sean Williams and Wessly Madhevere could not offer much resilience either, as the Chevrons found themselves struggling at 31/4 in the eleventh over.
Veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza and skipper Regis Chakabva, both of whom have form on their side, tried to build a partnership and stabilize the sinking ship. They did well to add 35 runs for the fifth-wicket stand, but Raza’s dismissal in the seventeenth over was followed by a procession of wickets.
Ryan Burl and Luke Jongwe managed to get into double figures but could not extend their stay, as it was then Prasidh Krishna's turn to join the act.
Zimbabwe lost their eighth wicket with only 110 runs on the scoreboard and it seemed that an all out was all but a few minutes away. However, such an occurrence was prevented by two of David Houghton’s bowlers, Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava.
Evans scored 33 runs while Ngarava accumulated 34 runs, as they fought bravely for their 70-run ninth-wicket stand. Following Ngarava’s dismissal, Axar Patel scalped Victor Nyauchi’s wicket in the 41st over to bowl out Zimbabwe for 189.
From India’s perspective, Deepak Chahar’s performance was a major positive. Returning from an injury, the pacer looked in sublime rhythm as he scalped three wickets, while Axar and Prasidh also achieved the same feat.
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