India won the third T20I in Harare by 23 runs against Zimbabwe to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Washington Sundar was named Player of the Match for his figures of 3 for 15, which helped India defend a total of 182..
What is the difference between the sides?
Be careful, light. After the defeat, Sikandar Raza spoke of giving “20 extra points” from the field, saying that otherwise the competition will be tougher in the middle. Although the hosts lost three times, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal made it pay, although the overall ground defense left a lot to be desired. Instead, India holds on, and it’s great outside.
India
PowerPlay: Fast start for India
Phase score: 55/0 (8x4s, 3x6s)
Zimbabwe started with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who returned to the team after returning home early, but it was a process that almost backfired and cost 15 runs early on. Shubman Gill bowled Jaiswal and Richard Ngarava for fourteen runs in the match. Tendai Chatara’s introduction does the same. Jaiswal hits for a boundary and takes six as India cruise to 41/0 after three overs. However, the introduction of Blessing Muzarabani only slowed things down and the visitors scored just 14 runs in three PowerPlay overs. Zimbabwe showed sloppy play and India could have scored more runs.
Middle overs: Zimbabwe make a comeback
Phase score: 72/2 (7x4s, 2x6s)
Captain Raja’s introduction was needed for Zimbabwe to bat first and break the opening stand of 67 runs. Jaiswal, who had bowled three balls earlier, missed the backhand and hit a backhand. Abhishek Sharma came into mid-on in his last over and, seemingly out of touch, he hit Raza’s leg-side for a boundary again. Ruturaj Gaikwad came out to bat next, but India lost momentum in the middle overs, scoring just 48 runs between the 4th and 12th overs. But as Zimbabwe looked to climb, Wessley Madhevere conceded 19 runs in 13 overs, with Gaikwad and Gill scoring. Throw it to the max.
Death overs: Sloppy hosts allow India past 180
Phase score: 55/2 (4x4s, 3x6s)
Zimbabwe started this phase of the game in a very difficult situation. Ngrava conceded just three runs in the 16th over, but India managed to bowl out Raza in the final over by 18 runs. Gill, who made 50 off 36 balls, fell to pick up the pace and drop a catch at mid-on, while Raza took several runs to save his teammates who fell down the field. Gaikwad fell short of 50, but his 29-ball 49 helped India to 182/4, which Yashasvi described as a “good score” on a “second-rate” pitch.
Zimbabwe
PowerPlay: Bowlers start well for India
Phase score: 37/3 (7x4s, 0x6s)
Zimbabwe at this stage showed a mixture of anger and frustration. Khaleel Ahmed opened with an early boundary off Tadiwanashe Marumani, but an Avesh Khan delivery and the new ball sent Wessly Madhevere to the other end. Back-to-back wickets of Marumani and Brian Bennett, who came in with four balls to spare, hurt the team at that point. Marumani fell while trying to break half-off, while Bennett fell to a good catch from Bishnoi at backward point. Sikandar Raza brought it when he hit the Avesh boundaries and reached 5000 T20 runs, but the damage was already done before then.
Middle overs: India’s lack of fifth bowler laid bare
Phase score: 73/3 (7x4s, 2x6s)
As India’s top-line players attacked, the side seemed to take control. Khaleel managed just two runs in the first 16 overs before Sundar (4-015-3) slipped in the next over to remove Madande, caught in the deep by Rinku Singh. In a run of 19, Bishnoi conceded 16 runs in his second over and Avesh conceded 18 runs in the last over, but two tight runs at the start of this innings more than sealed the deal for India..
Brief scores: India 182/4 (Gill 66, Gaikwad 49; Raza 2-24, Muzarabani 2-25) beat Zimbabwe 159/6 (Myers 65*; Sundar 3-15, Avesh 2-39) by 23 runs.
