Team India maintained their full dominance throughout the game as they defeated Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the first game of the 3-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
Opting to bowl, Indian bowlers gave no chance to any Zimbabwean batter to settle in on the crease and bowled them out for just 189 in 40.3 overs.
After a brilliant show by Indian bowlers, Indian openers, Shikhar Dhawan-Shubman Gill chased down the target comfortably in just 30.5 overs to hand India a 1-0 lead in the series.
IND Vs ZIM 1st ODI Match Highlights
KL Rahul, who made his return to competitive cricket after almost 3 months, opted to bowl, and Indian bowlers proved his decision right as another returnee Deepak Chahar broke opponents back by removing their top batters in the first 11 overs.
Mohammed Siraj also joined the party when he removed the second down batter Sean Williams.
Skipper Chakabva and Sikandar Raza, who smashed 2 unbeaten centuries in his last 3 innings, tried their best to add some runs on board by doing a 35-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Prasidh Krishna dismissed him. Krishna soon removed all-rounder Ryan Burl as well.
After six wickets taken by pacers, Axar Patel took the charge and grabbed 2 quick wickets that put Zimbabwe’s score at 110 for 8 and looks like they will also failed to cross even 150.
However, their no.9 and 10 players, Brad Evans (33*) and Richard Ngarva (34) recorded 70-run for the second last wicket to help their side reach a respectable score. Krishna registered his third dismissal of the day after sending back Ngarva, while Axar dismissed the last batter as Zimbabwe bundled out at 189.
Chasing a target of 190, Indian openers found it too easy and reached the target in just 30.5 overs to claim an easy victory.
All eyes, however, were on KL Rahul to open the innings, but the Indian team chose to go with the recently successful opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill.
Both openers continued their magical run on crease and handed India a victory without losing their wicket. Shikhar Dhawan scored 81 not out off 113 deliveries. While Gill played a knock of 82 runs in 72 balls.
The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on Saturday, August 20.
