India Secures 4-1 Series Win with Victory over Zimbabwe
India defeated Zimbabwe 4-1 in the Twenty20 International Series because to outstanding performances from Shivam Dube, Mukesh Kumar, and Sanju Samson.
Despite a half-century from Sanju Samson, Zimbabwe restricted India to a par total of 167, and they gained the upper hand in the chase thanks to a potent powerplay.
Zimbabwe 125 (Myers 34, Marumani 27, Akram 27, Mukesh 4-22, Dube 2-25) lost to India 167 for 6 (Samson 58, Dube 26, Muzarabani 2-19) by 42 runs.
Having lost the first game of the series, India pulled off an incredible series comeback in Harare with a 42-run victory behind bowling strikes from Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar, and Shivam Dube. India won easily for the fourth time in a row with their triumph on Sunday.
Sikandar Raza, the captain of Zimbabwe, sent India in after winning the toss for the first time in the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal got things started by hitting two sixes off the first two balls of the game, including one off a Raza no-ball. However, the opener was bowled in the first over itself since he was unable to capitalize on his early success.
Abhishek Sharma entered the picture, but he didn’t remain long because Blessing Muzarabani caught him off guard with a length ball that was angled across him. When a short ball from Richard Ngarava got huge on him and he mishit it to mid-on, Shubman Gill followed Abhishek to the hut.
After the powerplay, three top-order wickets reduced India to 44 for 3, forcing No. 4 Samson—who was promoted up in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence—and No. 5 Riyan Parag, who was batting for the second time in this series, to rebuild. Even though they only scored 65 for the fourth wicket during their 56-ball partnership, they made sure that India avoided a possible collapse. When Parag attempted to increase the scoring rate, he was dismissed by legspinner Brandon Mavuta after making a 24-ball 22.
Nevertheless, Samson wasted no time in getting began. He was on 17 off 18 balls at one point, but he took advantage of Mavuta’s bowling in his arc to increase the scoring pace. Samson hit just one four and four sixes overall. He was dismissed for 45 balls and 58 after falling in the deep during the 18th over while attempting to take Muzarabani on.
India stood at 135 for 3 with 15 balls remaining, setting the stage for a competitive conclusion. In his 12-ball cameo of 26, Dube destroyed Ngarava’s economy rate by hitting him for 4, 6, 4 in the 19th over. Rinku Singh then hit a six in the 20th over to guarantee that India ended above 160. Out of Zimbabwe’s five bowlers, Muzarabani was the best with 2 for 19 in his four overs.
Taking his third wicket in the opening over of the series, Mukesh, back in the XI for the last match, repeated his pattern of striking early and winning the game. Wessly Madhevere fell victim to a duck this time after chopping off a ball that traveled swiftly into the right-hand batter’s field.
With a full ball swinging away, Mukesh persuaded Brian Bennett (10) to play over the off side, but the No. 3 could only slice to deep backward point, leaving the hosts at 15 for 2 in the third over. Mukesh then added another.
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After a clean spell to the left-hander from around the wicket, Mukesh could have had a third, pegging back Marumani’s stumps. However, he had overstepped, and it appeared for a moment to be an expensive error as Marumani and No. 4 Dion Myers (34) attacked wristspinner Ravi Bishnoi and seamer Tushar Deshpande.
They exerted extra effort against Bishnoi, a bowler with whom Zimbabwe has had difficulty throughout the entire series. The wristspinner started things off with a 16-run sixth over, which moved Zimbabwe to 47 for 2.
After the powerplay, Washington got the ball and hit Marumani, who was trying to slog past the line, for a leg before wicket in his second over. With Bishnoi and Washington in charge, India was able to turn the tide of the match in their favor after that dismissal caused a delay.
In the 13th and 15th overs, Dube contributed significantly, taking one wicket each with short balls. After letting go of Myers, he had Jonathan Campbell hole out. He smacked Raza straight at the end of the bowler’s end to run him out in the intermission. Zimbabwe was left battling at 90 for 6.
With the game out of reach for Zimbabwe, Dube eventually finished with 2 for 25, while Abhishek and Deshpande each took a wicket. Towards the end of the innings, Faraz Akram (27 off 13) delighted the home audience with two fours and two sixes before being caught behind by Mukesh in the 19th over. 11th No. Following a thorough and quick delivery, Ngarava was unable to respond, and Mukesh concluded with his best T20I stats of 4 for 22.
Player of the Match went to Dube for his 12-ball 26 and 2 for 25. Washington’s eight wickets at an economy rate of 5.16 and an average of 11.62 earned him the Player-of-the-Series award.
