India wallop Zimbabwe

Rahane's boys thump hosts by 54 runs in the opening T20I

Young Axar Patel and Harbhajan Singh gave an impressive display of spin bowling as India relied on an all-round display to trounce a hapless Zimbabwe by 54 runs in the first T20 International here on Friday.

Axar (3/17) and Harbhajan (2/29) ripped through the Zimbabwe batting order as the home side ended at 124/7 while chasing a target of 179 on a slow track at Harare Sports Club to give India a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The 21-year-old left-arm spinner Axar, one of the five Indians who made their T20I debut, and veteran off-spinner Harbhajan virtually ended the match midway into Zimbabwe run chase with quick strikes that left the home side in total disarray.

Earlier, India’s top three batsmen captain Ajinkya Rahane (33), Murali Vijay (34) and Robin Uthappa (39 n.o.) fired in unison to help the visiting side post a commanding 178 for 5 after electing to bat. The Zimbabweans also helped India’s cause as they conceded 25 runs as extras.

Chasing the stiff target, Zimbabwe struggled for runs with the Indians bowling a tight line and length with pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar opening the bowling in impressive manner by giving away just three runs in his first spell of two overs.

After showing some promise, the Zimbabweans just fizzled out as they failed to negotiate the guiles of Axar and Harbhajan.

Chamu Chibhabha (23) was the first to go in the ninth over off the bowling of Harbhajan who snapped the opening stand of 55. Chibhabha went for a big shot but failed to beat Manish Pandey near the boundary ropes.

Next over, Patel dismissed two Zimbabwe batsmen in the space of five balls to send the home side run chase into disarray. While Hamilton Masakadza (28) was caught at short fine leg by Kedar Jadhav, captain Elton Chigumbura (1) was clean-bowled off a gem of delivery from Patel.

Harbhajan returned to dismiss another Zimbabwe batsman — Charles Coventry (10) — in the 11th over to virtually end Zimbabwe’s run chase. By then, the home side had been reduced to 68/4 with the asking rate soaring above 14 an over.

Patel removed Sikandar Raza (10) in the 16th over to claim his third wicket while pacer Sandeep Sharma, who made his international debut, grabbed his first wicket by dismissing Graeme Cremer in the 18th over.

The other wicket-taker for India was Mohit Sharma (1/8).

Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav and Stuart Binny were the other three Indian players who were making their T20I debut.

The two sides now play their second T20I match on Sunday at the same venue.

Earlier, India posted 178/5 with Uthappa top-scoring with an unbeaten 39.

Uthappa, who struggled during the ODI series played before these T20 matches, batted sensibly and held the innings together after coming one down in the seventh over.

He shared 45 runs for the third wicket with Pandey (19) to accelerate the Indian innings towards the end after openers Rahane and Vijay gave a good start at the top. Uthappa hit just two fours in his 35-ball innings.
PTI