Zimbabwe wins first T20I by 13 runs, shocking India.
Zimbabwe wins first T20I by 13 runs, shocking India.
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In the opening Twenty20 International at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, Zimbabwe upset a youthful India side by 13 runs, led by Sikandar Raza with 3-25. This was a setback for the recently crowned world champions in the five-game series.
India elected to field and held Zimbabwe to 115 for nine in their 20 overs; however, they were never able to mount a strong resistance and were bowled out for 102, with off-spinner Raza, who was born in Pakistan, claiming the crucial wicket of touring captain Shubman Gill (31).
With Washington Sundar delivering figures of 2-11, leg-break bowler Ravi Bishnoi took 4-13 in his four overs as India suffocated the Zimbabwean batsmen in their innings.
Zimbabwe slumped from 73-3 to 90-9 before a late-inning frenzy, with Clive Madande emerging as the top scorer with an undefeated 29 from 25 balls. A number of home batsmen received starts.
India's response was off to a terrible start; they fell down 22-4 and never got back up. The only two players to record a meaningful innings were Gill and Sundar (27).
Many of the first-choice players for the trip have been left behind by the visitors. In their nine previous T20 matches, all of which took place in Harare, Zimbabwe has only defeated India three times, the last being in 2016.