Sikandar Raza’s valiant century had pushed the hosts back from the brink, but Shubman Gill’s sensational catch in the penultimate over of a frantic chase gave India a dramatic 13-run victory to complete a 3-0 whitewash. With just one wicket remaining, there were only 15 runs needed off the final over and it was India who went home happy.
Raza’s innings took Zimbabwe from 169 for 7 in a chase of 290 to a position where they required 15 to win from nine balls. Gill sprinted forward from long-on to catch Raza after he swung a slower ball from Shardul Thakur down the ground and reached 115 off 94 balls, having already hit three sixes.
From the 18th over on, Raza almost single-handedly led Zimbabwe’s charge, recording his sixth ODI century overall and third in six innings while wickets fell all around him. With only three wickets remaining, Zimbabwe needed 95 from the final 10 batsmen, but Raza and the tenacious Brad Evans reduced the total to 52 off 30.
After the first two ODIs, Zimbabwe’s top-order performance only slightly improved, with Sean Williams moving up to No. 3 after Deepak Chahar trapped Innocent Kaia with an inswinging yorker after a string of outswingers. When Tony Munyonga struggled to get going and Takudzwanashe Kaitano left the game in the sixth over with what appeared to be a cramp, their difficulties were made worse.
In contrast, Williams made three fours in his first nine balls, the best of which was a crucial pull against Chahar. After the field opened up, singles and doubles became more common before Williams and Munyonga were bowled in quick succession. Prior to Munyonga mistiming a lofted drive off Avesh to wide mid-off, Axar Patel first trapped Williams plumb with a dart for 45, leaving Zimbabwe 84 for 3.
Prior to it, Gill’s stroke-filled innings of 130 off 97 balls gave India a respectable total despite Evans’s first-ever five-for. KL Early on, Rahul chose to bat in “difficult” circumstances, although he himself appeared scratchy until he went on to hit Evans for 30. Dhawan launched India’s batting with three fours in his first ten balls, but Zimbabwe quickly answered with tight bowling. Dhawan was dropped at point by Richard Ngarava for a live chance on 17, but he was unable to take advantage of it and was given the lead edge to cover for 40.
Zimbabwe started to respond just as Gill sped up to his century and Kishan reached his second ODI fifty, off 61 balls. A review revealed that Gill had gotten a thick edge off Evans’ bowling in the 43rd over, but Zimbabwe still managed to take a wicket with Kishan being run out when Munyonga swooped in from the point and threw the stumps down at the non-end. striker’s Five balls later, Evans’ offcutter bowled Deepak Hooda for 1, but Gill was unconcerned.
Evans was a major factor in Zimbabwe’s comeback in the final two overs. He completed with his first ODI five-for, to the cheers of his father and former Zimbabwe all-rounder Craig Evans, who were watching from the stands. In the last over, he had Gill caught at long-off for 130, and Thakur misplayed a slower ball to mid-off while only giving away seven more runs.
MAN OF THE MATCH- Shubhman Gill
MAN OF THE SERIES- Shubhman Gill
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