Sanju Samson's brilliant half-century, Shivam Dube's all-round performance and Mukesh Kumar's career-best four-wicket haul helped India beat Zimbabwe by 42 runs in the fifth and final T20 International to win the five-match series 4-1 at Harare.
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| Sanju Samson top-scored with 58 off 45 balls © Associated Press |
Zimbabwe vs India 5th T20I at Harare Sports Club, 14th July 2024 - Zimbabwe restricted India to 167 despite a superb half-century by Sanju Samson and they took the lead in the chase after a strong powerplay. However, Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube returned with the ball to end any chance of a Zimbabwean win and India made a stunning comeback to level the series with a 42-run win in Harare after losing the series opener. Sunday's win was India's fourth consecutive victory, all of which were completed in comfortable fashion.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss for the first time in the entire series and put India into the batting first. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed two sixes off the first two balls of the match, including a six off Sikandar Raza's no-ball, but the opener could not make his start big and was bowled in the first over.
This brought in Abhishek Sharma, but his stay was also short-lived, with Blessing Muzarabani having him caught behind off a length ball. Shubman Gill followed Abhishek when Richard Ngarava's short ball was too big for him, and he sliced the mis-hit over mid-on.
The fall of three top-order wickets reduced India to 44 for 3 after the powerplay and number four Samson (he was sent up in the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad) and number five Riyan Parag (who was batting for the second time this series) had to bat again. They batted together for 56 balls and even though they added only 65 runs for the fourth wicket, they ensured that India prevented a potential collapse. Parag scored 22 off 24 balls and was dismissed by leg-spinner Brandon Mavuta when he tried to increase the scoring rate.
However, Samson made the most of the time he took to score runs. At one stage he was batting on 17 off 18 balls, but when Mavuta bowled in his arc, he increased the scoring rate. Samson hit four sixes in total, and just one four, and when he was caught in the deep trying to hoick Muzarabani in the 18th over, he was dismissed for 58 off 45 balls.
With 15 balls to go and India at 135 for 3, the foundation for an aggressive end had been laid. Dube disrupted Ngarava's economy rate with a brilliant 26 off 12 balls in the 19th over and Rinku Singh hit a six in the 20th over to take India past 160. Muzarabani took 2 for 19 in his four overs and was the best of the five bowlers used by Zimbabwe.
Coming back into the playing XI for the last match of the series, Mukesh continued his early wicket-taking habit and picked up his third first over wicket in three matches. This time the victim was Wesley Madhevere, who chopped a fast delivery towards the right-hander and was dismissed for a duck.
Mukesh added a second when he induced Brian Bennett (10) to play on the off side off a full-swinging delivery but the number three batsman could only slice the ball to deep backward point to leave the hosts at 15 for 2 in the third over.
Mukesh could have had a third chance, having uprooted the stumps of Tadivanashe Marumani, but he went ahead and it looked like a costly mistake as Marumani and number four Dion Myers (34) attacked pacer Tushar Deshpande and wristspinner Ravi Bishnoi. He came in particularly hard against Bishnoi, a player Zimbabwe have struggled against all series, and the wrist-spinner conceded 16 in the sixth over to reduce Zimbabwe to 47 for 2.
Washington took over the ball after the powerplay and in his second over bowled Marumani from round the wicket, who was trapped LBW trying to slog across the line. This dismissal led to a slow start to the game, allowing India to pull the game back in their favour with Bishnoi and Washington taking control.
Shivam Dube performed brilliantly and took a wicket each with short balls in the 13th and 15th overs. He first dismissed Myers and then Jonathan Campbell. In the intervening over, he ran out Raza with a direct hit at the bowler's end. Due to all this, Zimbabwe's score became 90/6.
Shivam Dube eventually took 2 for 25, while Abhishek and Deshpande also took a wicket each and the game slipped out of Zimbabwe's grasp. Faraz Akram (27 off 13 balls) entertained the home crowd with two fours and two sixes towards the end of the innings, but was caught off Mukesh in the 19th over. No. 11 Ngarava again had no answer to a full, fast delivery, and Mukesh finished with his best T20I figures - 4 for 22.