<div>Ambati Rayudu struck a career-best unbeaten 124, only his second international century, to help India recover from a top-order collapse and post a competitive 255 for six against Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the three-match series, here today.<br /><br />Rayudu, whose previous best score was 121, batted with poise and displayed tremendous maturity to steer India to the 250-plus score in the able company of Stuart Binny, who made a career-best 77 off 79 balls.<br /><br />Rayudu and Binny joined hands when India were in a spot of bother at 87 for five, but the duo showed matured heads to resurrect the innings with a 160-run sixth wicket partnership.<br />While Rayudu decorated his 133-ball knock with 12 fours and a solitary hit over the fence, Binny struck six boundaries and two sixes during his knock.<br /><br />Apart from the duo, captain Ajinkya Rahane (34) was the only other Indian batsmen to register a double digit score.<br /><br />Chamu Chibhabha (2/25) and Donald Tripano (2/48) picked up two wickets apiece for the hosts.<br /><br />India did not have the best of starts after being asked to bat at the Harare Sports Club ground.<br /><br />Opener Murali Vijay (1) perished early, edging a good length delivery to Vusi Sibanda at second slip off left-arm pacer Brian Vittori in the fourth over.<br /><br />With the ball doing enough to trouble the batsmen, India found it difficult to score at a quick rate and Vijay's dismissal did not help the visitors either.<br /><br />Rahane, who opened the batting alongside Vijay, and Rayudu somewhat steadied the innings with a 51-run second wicket stand before India witnessed a batting collapse, which saw as many as four wickets fell in a span of seven overs.<br /><br />During his 49-ball knock, Rahane struck five delightful boundaries before Tripano extracted some extra bounce and got a thick edge from the batsman which was pounced by Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza at slip.<br /><br />Back into the senior side after a long hiatus, Manoj Tiwary (2) and Robin Uthappa failed to capitalise on their chances while Kedar Jadhav (5) had a forgettable debut as India lost three more quick wickets to slump to 87 for five by the 25th over.<br /><br />While Tiwary was dismissed LBW by Chibhabha, Uthappa failed to open his account after he was caught short of the crease by Sikandar Raza's direct hit at the non-striker's end in the next over.<br /><br />Debutant Jadhav soon became Chibhabha's second scalp when he edged a back of a length delivery to wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami.<br /><br />With wickets tumbling at the other end, Rayudu needed a partner to build the innings and in Binny he found the perfect ally.<br /><br />The duo played cautiously initially and kept the scoreboard ticking without taking any chances. They, however, did not let go any bad delivery that came their way.<br /><br />Rayudu brought up his half-century with a single in the 29th over with the help of six boundaries.<br /><br />As time passed by, the pair got accustomed to the wicket. A hard-hitting all-rounder, Binny showed his big hitting skills by launching Cremer over the long-on boundary.<br /><br />Binny brought up his maiden fifty in the 45th over off Payangara which yielded 15 runs. Rayudu struck a six and four in consecutive balls off Payangara to march to his century which came off 117 balls.<br /><br />Binny matched his partner stroke for stroke and used his long handle to great effect towards the end before edging a Tripano delivery to Mutumbami while going for big heave in the penultimate over.<br /></div>
<div>Ambati Rayudu struck a career-best unbeaten 124, only his second international century, to help India recover from a top-order collapse and post a competitive 255 for six against Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the three-match series, here today.<br /><br />Rayudu, whose previous best score was 121, batted with poise and displayed tremendous maturity to steer India to the 250-plus score in the able company of Stuart Binny, who made a career-best 77 off 79 balls.<br /><br />Rayudu and Binny joined hands when India were in a spot of bother at 87 for five, but the duo showed matured heads to resurrect the innings with a 160-run sixth wicket partnership.<br />While Rayudu decorated his 133-ball knock with 12 fours and a solitary hit over the fence, Binny struck six boundaries and two sixes during his knock.<br /><br />Apart from the duo, captain Ajinkya Rahane (34) was the only other Indian batsmen to register a double digit score.<br /><br />Chamu Chibhabha (2/25) and Donald Tripano (2/48) picked up two wickets apiece for the hosts.<br /><br />India did not have the best of starts after being asked to bat at the Harare Sports Club ground.<br /><br />Opener Murali Vijay (1) perished early, edging a good length delivery to Vusi Sibanda at second slip off left-arm pacer Brian Vittori in the fourth over.<br /><br />With the ball doing enough to trouble the batsmen, India found it difficult to score at a quick rate and Vijay's dismissal did not help the visitors either.<br /><br />Rahane, who opened the batting alongside Vijay, and Rayudu somewhat steadied the innings with a 51-run second wicket stand before India witnessed a batting collapse, which saw as many as four wickets fell in a span of seven overs.<br /><br />During his 49-ball knock, Rahane struck five delightful boundaries before Tripano extracted some extra bounce and got a thick edge from the batsman which was pounced by Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza at slip.<br /><br />Back into the senior side after a long hiatus, Manoj Tiwary (2) and Robin Uthappa failed to capitalise on their chances while Kedar Jadhav (5) had a forgettable debut as India lost three more quick wickets to slump to 87 for five by the 25th over.<br /><br />While Tiwary was dismissed LBW by Chibhabha, Uthappa failed to open his account after he was caught short of the crease by Sikandar Raza's direct hit at the non-striker's end in the next over.<br /><br />Debutant Jadhav soon became Chibhabha's second scalp when he edged a back of a length delivery to wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami.<br /><br />With wickets tumbling at the other end, Rayudu needed a partner to build the innings and in Binny he found the perfect ally.<br /><br />The duo played cautiously initially and kept the scoreboard ticking without taking any chances. They, however, did not let go any bad delivery that came their way.<br /><br />Rayudu brought up his half-century with a single in the 29th over with the help of six boundaries.<br /><br />As time passed by, the pair got accustomed to the wicket. A hard-hitting all-rounder, Binny showed his big hitting skills by launching Cremer over the long-on boundary.<br /><br />Binny brought up his maiden fifty in the 45th over off Payangara which yielded 15 runs. Rayudu struck a six and four in consecutive balls off Payangara to march to his century which came off 117 balls.<br /><br />Binny matched his partner stroke for stroke and used his long handle to great effect towards the end before edging a Tripano delivery to Mutumbami while going for big heave in the penultimate over.<br /></div>