HARARE: Shubman Gill’s brisk half-century, followed by Washington Sundar’s three-for steered India to a 23-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third T20I of the five-match series here at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.
The inexperienced India side, who succumbed to a narrow defeat in the series opener, now lead the five-match series 2-1 with two games to spare.
Opting to bat first, India racked up a commendable total of 182/4 on the tricky surface of the Harare Sports Club.
Leading the way was their young skipper Shubman Gill, who scored a magnificent half-century.
Gill gave India a solid start with his 67-run opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The solid opening stand lasted in the ninth over when Jaiswal fell victim to Sikandar Raza in the ninth over after scoring 36 off 27 deliveries.
Gill was then involved in yet another important partnership for India when he added 72 runs for the third wicket with Raturaj Gaikwad before finally walking back in the 18th over.
He remained the top-scorer for India with a 49-ball 66 which included 10 boundaries including three sixes.
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Gaikwad bolstered India’s total at the backend with clean hitting but failed to convert his brilliant knock into a well-deserved half-century as Blessing Muzarabani dismissed him in the final over.
Raturaj Gaikwad was the other notable run-getter for India with a quickfire 49 off just 28 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes.
For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani bagged two wickets each.
In response, Zimbabwe managed 159/6 in the allotted overs as they failed to recover from the dismal start.
Avesh Khan and Washington Sundar ran through Zimbabwe’s top order, reducing the home side to 39/5 in seven overs.
Dion Myers then glimmered a ray of hope for Zimbabwe as he took on the India bowlers amid his gutsy knock.
Myers waged a lone battle for Zimbabwe with an unbeaten 65 off 49 deliveries but lamented support from the other end and thus the home side came up short.
Sundar led the bowling charge for India with three wickets, followed by Avesh Khan with two.
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