CHENNAI: Blistering half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya, backed by a disciplined bowling display, powered India national cricket team to a commanding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe national cricket team in their crucial Super Eights clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.
The win marked India’s first success in the Super Eights stage and kept their semi-final hopes alive, while the result also confirmed Zimbabwe’s exit and sealed South Africa national cricket team’s qualification for the knockouts from Group 1.
India’s remaining Super Eights fixture against West Indies cricket team in Kolkata on Sunday has now turned into a virtual quarter-final, with both teams level on two points from as many matches.
Chasing a daunting 257-run target, Zimbabwe managed 184/6 in their 20 overs despite a valiant unbeaten knock from Brian Bennett. The right-handed opener waged a lone battle, smashing 97 not out off 59 deliveries, hitting eight fours and six sixes.
He stitched important partnerships with Tadiwanashe Marumani and captain Sikandar Raza, who scored 20 and 31, respectively.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling charge with impressive figures of 3/24 in four overs, while Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s decision to field first backfired as India piled up a massive 256/4 in their allotted overs.
India’s new opening pair of Sanju Samson and Sharma gave the hosts a brisk start, adding 48 runs before Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Samson for a 15-ball 24.
Sharma then combined with Ishan Kishan for a 72-run stand to consolidate India’s dominance. Raza broke the partnership in the 11th over, removing Kishan for 38 off 24 balls.
Sharma continued his aggressive approach and brought up a crucial 30-ball 55, laced with four sixes and four fours, before falling in the 13th over. Captain Suryakumar Yadav followed soon after a fiery 33 off just 13 deliveries.
A late onslaught from Tilak Varma and Pandya put the finishing touches on India’s imposing total. The duo added an unbeaten 84-run partnership for the fifth wicket, with Pandya blasting 50 not out off 23 balls, while Varma struck a rapid 44 off 16 deliveries.
For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava, Maposa, Muzarabani and Raza picked up one wicket each, but their efforts were not enough to stop India from registering a comprehensive win.
