1st T20I: Zimbabwe stun new-look India by 13 runs

Sat, 06 July 2024

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20:12

This is India's first loss in 2024

Ind 102 (19.5 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Zimbabwe hand a new-look India a 13-run loss in the first T20I in Harare on Saturday.

Chasing a tricky target of 116, India were all out for 102.

India were reduced to 86 for 9 in 17 overs and from there Washington Sundar (27; 34b) led India's fightback but only to fall short.

This became India's first loss in the format in 2024.

The visitors lost four wickets in the powerplay overs and could never recover. Save for a 23-run stand between Gill and Jurel, India could never find the impetus needed to chase down the target.

Zimbabwe's fielders put on a splendid effort to compliment their bowlers. Chatara and captain Raza finished with three wickets a piece to help their team to a famous win.

Earlier, a new-look India led by Shubman Gill restricted Zimbabwe to 115 for nine in the first T20I of the five-match series.

Wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi claimed a career-best 4 for 13, while off spin-allrounder Washington Sundar snapped 2 for 11 as Zimbabwe lost six wickets for 16 runs to slip to 90 for 9 inside 16 overs.

But wicketkeeper-batter Clive Madande held the fort with a fine cameo of 29 not out from 25 balls (4x4) with an unbroken 25-run last wicket stand with Tendai Chatara.

India handed debut caps to Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.

16 needed off the last over now as Chatara comes back to bowl the final over.

A dot to start the over as Sundar blocks.

Sundar then takes a couple to fine leg as he top edges the slower ball.

Sundar plays the ball over extra cover but Jonathan Campbell saves a couple but it's a dot.

14 needed off 2 now.

Sundar is caught out and Zimbabwe beat India by 13 runs with a ball to go.

Muzarabani is back in the attack and after a dot, he bowls a big wide on the off side.

Sundar plays three dots next.

Sundar then takes a single to third man. 100 up for India.

Khaleel plays a dot to end the over as just two come off it.

19:52

India 9 down

Ind 98-9 (18 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

India need 30 off 18 balls.

Khaleel is the new man in and Jongwe is back in the attack.

Sundar plays three dots before he pulls the slower ball for a six over deep mid-wicket.

A wide ball next.

Slower ball down the leg side and Sundar then pulls the ball over fine leg for a four!

A single to end the over as 12 come off it.

Raza continues and Sundar plays two dots.

Raza then bowls a wide down the leg side.

A dot later, Sundar takes a single to long on.

Mukesh stumped next ball. Third umpire called into action and the replay shows he is safe.

Raza strikes next ball as Mukesh is bowled all ends up and India have lost the 9th wicket. Mukesh out for a duck.

19:41

Masakadza breaks 23-run stand

Ind 84-8 (16 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Mukesh is the new man in and he plays a dot as a wicket and 9 runs come off it.

Left-arm spinner Masakadza is back in the attack and Sundar starts the over with a single.

Avesh then hammers the ball to long on where Kaia misfields and the ball goes to the boundary as he fails to take the ball neatly.

Avesh then pulls the ball through mid-wicket for a four!

A dot later, Avesh slaps the full toss straight to long off and he is out for 16 off 12 and the partnership of 23 is broken.

Raza continues and Avesh starts the over with a single.

Raza comes around the wicket and Sundar plays it to deep square leg for a couple.

Sundar and Avesh then take a single each.

Sundar takes a single to the leg side next ball before a dot to end the over as 6 runs come off it.

19:32

India lose 7th wicket

Ind 69-7 (14 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Jongwe continues and Sundar starts the over with a single.

Avesh then survives an LBW appeal before taking a tight single to mid-on.

Sundar then takes a single to deep cover.

Avesh then whacks the slower ball off the inside edge for a four to mid-wicket.

Avesh then takes a single to backward square leg as 8 come off it.

Avesh Khan is the new man in and he plays out a dot as a wicket and 7 runs come off it.

Raza continues and Sundar drives the ball through extra cover for 3.

Bishnoi then cuts the ball through cover point for a four!

Two dots later, Raza has Bishnoi out LBW but India take the review.

Raza hits Bishnoi on the front leg as he comes down the track, the umpire raises the finger on the appeal. And ball tracking shows wickets hitting and Bishmoi has to go back for 9. India lose 7th wicket.

19:22

Gill out for 31

Ind 54-6 (12 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Jongwe continues and Sundar is happy to just defend and he plays out 4 dots before taking a single to deep cover.

A dot to end the over as just a single comes off it.

Bishnoi is the new man in and after a dot, Bishnoi sweeps the ball to fine leg to get off the mark with a four.

Bishnoi then gets a single to long off.

Sundar is off the mark to deep point. 10 runs and a wicket come off it.

Offie Sikandar Raza in the attack now and Gill starts the over with a sweep to backward square leg for a four.

Raza strikes next ball as Gill is bowled out for 31.

Quicker ball, skids on and Gill fails to defend and it crashes into his stumps. India are now 6 down.

Sundar is the new man in and plays a dot as 7 runs and a wicket come off it.

Medium pacer Jongwe in the attack now and Gill starts the over with a single to mid-wicket.

Jurel then takes a single to deep backward point.

Gill then gets a single to long on.

Jurel then gets a four through the off side with wonderful timing as he creams the overpitched ball through the line.

Jurel is out next ball as he is done in by the slower ball and is caught at extra cover. India now 5 down.

Left-arm spinner Masakadza is back in the attack and just two singles come in the over as the fielders do a good job.

19:06

Zim bowlers keep runs down

Ind 35-4 (8 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Muzarabani continues and Gill starts the over with a single.

Jurel finally gets off the mark with a single to fine leg for a single.

Gill then paddles the ball down to backward square leg for a four.

Gill then gets an inside edge on to the pads.

Two dots to end the over as 6 runs come off it.

Chatara continues, gets the ball to move away and Jurel is hit on the back leg as he tries to play on the leg side, big shout for LBW. No says the umpire. Zimbabwe review and they lose it as it showed wickets missing because of height.

Jurel plays three dots as Chatara keeps it tight.

Another dot as backward point fielder stops a single.

After a brief delay, Jurel plays another dot and that is a maiden!

18:54

India 4 down; Rinku out for a duck

Ind 28-4 (6 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Jurel is the new man in as Muzarabani continues.

Rapped on the pads first ball, Gill takes the review as the umpire raises the finger.

Gill survives as the review shows the ball hit high on his pads.

Gill plays two dots before the leading edge goes past backward point for a couple.

Gill then clips the ball sweetly through mid-wicket for a four as the bowler over-pitches.

A dot to end the over as 6 runs come off the over.

Rinku is the new man in and he starts with a dot.

Chatara bowls a short ball next and Rinku goes for the big pull, he top edges it and is caught at slips and Rinku is out for a duck. India four down as Chatara gets his 2nd wicket in the over.

6 runs and 2 wickets come off the over.

Chatara continues and Parag plays the ball down to third man for a single.

Gill comes down the track and lofts it straight down the ground for a four!

Gill then gets a single to mid-wicket.

Chatara strikes next ball as Parag tries to play the big shot over mid-on but the lack of pace does him in as he is caught out a mid-off and is out for 2.

18:41

Gaikwad out for 7

Ind 16-2 (4 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Parag is the new man in and he is off the mark with a single with a cut down to deep backward point.

Gill is beaten next ball as he plays and misses!

A dot to end the over as a wicket and 4 runs come off it.

Medium pacer Muzarabani in the attack now and Gill plays an uppish drive over covers for 3.

A dot later, Gaikwad gets the outside edge and is caught in the slips by Kaia. The umpires call in the third umpire to check if the catch is clean and replays show the ball has carried safely to the fielder and Gaikwad is out for 7. India lose 2nd wicket.

Right arm seamer Chatara in the attack now and Gaikwad is off the mark with a couple to sweeper cover.

A dot later, Gaikwad takes a tight single to mid-on and survives a near run-out.

Gill then takes a single to cover.

Gaikwad then times the ball through covers for a four!

A dot to end the over, thanks to some good fielding, as 8 come off it.

18:31

Bennett starts with a wicket-maiden

Ind 4-1 (2 ovs) vs Zim 115-9 | Scorecard

Left-arm spinner Masakadza opens at the other end and some good ground fielding sees Gill play four dots.

The Indian captain finally gets off the mark with a backfoot cut through backward point for a four. A dot to end the over as just 4 come off it.

Gaikwad is the new man in and he plays out two dots and that is a successful over for Zimbabwe and a wicket-maiden for Bennett.

Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill open the batting for India while Bennett opens the bowling for Zimbabwe.

And after three dots the spinner strikes as Abhishek tries to go big only to be holed out in the deep and he is out for a duck on debut.

18:13

Bishnoi finishes with his best figures in T20Is

Zim 115-9 (20 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Avesh continues and Madande gets cheeky, comes to the off side and scoops the full ball over fine leg for a four.

A dot later, Madanade fails to execute his pull off the short bouncer.

Madande then drills the ball down the ground for a four!

A dot later, Madande ends the innings with a four through third man as Zimbabwe finish with 115 for 9 in their 20 overs.

Mukesh back in the attack and the full toss goes past Bishnoi at backward point and the batters take a couple as the 100 comes up for the hosts.

Madande then cuts the ball down to sweeper cover for another couple.

Madande then looks to lap it over the keeper but misses.

The Zimbabwe crowd is on its feet now and singing in chorus.

A dot later, Madande gets a single to mid-on off a yorker.

A dot to end the over as 5 come off it.

Avesh back in the attack and Madande starts the over with two dots.

Madande then cuts the next ball through backward point for a four! Perfect timing and placement.

Another slice down to third man and he gets a couple.

A dot ball next.

A single to short third man to end the over as 7 come off it.

Sundar continues and Madande lofts the ball to the leg side only for a single.

Chatara then plays out 5 dots as just a single comes off the over. Sundar ends with figures of 2 for 11.

17:59

Zimbabwe in tatters

Zim 90-9 (16 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Zimbabwe have lost 6 wickets for 17 runs.

Bishnoi finishes with his best figures in T20Is -- 4 for 13.

Chatara is the new man in and he plays three dots and that is a double-wicket maiden.

Muzarabani is the new man in and he is rapped on the pads first ball. Another appeal and the umpire raises the finger. Zimbabwe challenge the decision and retain the review as ball tracking shows hitting outside off.

But Muzarabani goes for a big heave next ball, misses and his stumps are all over and he is out for a duck. Bishnoi picks his fourth. Zimbabwe now 9 down.

Bishnoi continues and he strikes first ball as Jongwe is beaten by the googly, trapped in front of the stumps. Big shout and the umpire raises the finger.

Zimbabwe take the review and lose it as Jongwe is out LBW for 1.

17:48

Myers, Masakadza sent back

Zim 90-7 (15 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Jongwe is the new man in and he is beaten on the outside edge first ball.

He then gets off the mark next ball before Madande plays out a dot. Two wickets and 3 runs come off the over.

Masakadza is the new man in and he is out first ball as he stumped out nicely by Jurel.

Third umpire is called in and it's out. Masakadza is out for a first ball duck.

Sundar continues and Myers starts the over with a couple to cover.

Myers miscues the pull next ball and hits it straight back to the bowler as he is out for 23 off 22 balls.

Bishnoi is back in the attack and Myers starts the over with a four through covers.

A wide ball next before the batters take three singles and a couple as 10 runs come off the over.

Clive Madande is the new man in and Sundar continues. Madande gets off the mark with a single but the batters get just three runs in the over.

17:38

Raza, Campbell back in the hut

Zim 77-5 (12 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Johnathan Campbell is the new man in and he is run-out first ball.

He plays the ball to mid-wicket and calls for a single but runs back, by the time Myers crosses over and batters are at the strikers' end. Campbell is run out for a first ball duck. 2 wickets and a single comes in the over.

Avesh continues and Myers takes a single off the first ball of the over.

Two dots later, Avesh strikes! Raza pulls the ball straight to the fielder at long on and he is out for 17 off 19.

Washington Sundar in the attack now and the batters rotate the strike as 4 runs come in the over.

17:24

Runs flowing now for hosts

Zim 69-3 (10 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Avesh in the attack now and after a dot, Raza welcomes him with a lofted six down the ground as he holds his poise. What a shot!

Raza and Myers then take three singles before Myers slashes at the ball and is beaten. 9 runs come off it.

Abhishek Sharma continues and Myers edges the ball over slips for a four.

Myers and Raza rotate the strike for singles and twos as 8 runs come off the over.

17:18

Madhevere out for 21

Zim 52-3 (8 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Dion Myers is the new man in and he gets off the mark with a cut past point for a single. 3 runs and a wicket come off it.

Bishnoi continues and he appeals for stumping.

The Indians don't take the review but the umpire goes to the third umpire and replays show Madhevere's foot is grounded and he is not out.

Madhevere goes for a slog sweep and is hit on the pads. Dot ball.

Another dot ball later, Madhevere laps it down to the leg side for a couple.

Madhevere attempts another slog and he misses, and the flat, quick ball crashes into the stumps. The opener is out for 21 and Bishnoi gets his 2nd.

Debutant Abhishek Sharma in the attack now with his left arm spin and he gives away 8 runs as Raza gets a boundary off him in the over.

17:08

Bennett taken out by Bishnoi

Zim 40-2 (6 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Zimbabwe captain Raza walks in at No 4.

And Raza is hit on the pad first ball.

Raza plays another two dots as he seems a little clueless.

5 dots to end the over and that is a wicket-maiden.

Leg spinner Bishnoi in the attack now and there is an appeal for bowled, Bennett stands his ground, third umpire called in and replays show the bails are come off and Bennett is bowled out 22 off 15.

16:59

Bennett, Madhevere on the attack

Zim 40-1 (5 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Khaleel continues and Bennett slashes hard and the thick edge flies over slips for a four.

Another edge and Bennett is lucky to be put down by Avesh at third man and the ball goes to the boundary for a four.

Bennett then takes a single before Madhevere is beaten on the outside edge next ball.

Short ball and Madhevere pulls it over mid-wicket for a four!

Thick outside edge and the ball goes to the third man for another four as 17 runs come off it.

Mukesh continues and hits Madhevere flush on the helmet first ball and the physio runs out for the customary concussion test.

After the all clear, Madhevere takes a single wide of mid-off.

Benett is then gifted a single after a misfield at mid-wicket.

Madhevere then taps the ball to the off side and scampers for a single.

Bennett is then beaten next ball as he looks to drive.

Short ball next, Bennett miscues the pull and the ball goes to the leg side and he takes a single. 4 come off the over.

Khaleel continue and after two dots Madhevere takes a single to mid-wicket.

Shortish ball next and Bennett goes on his toes and plays it over covers for a four!

Two dots to end the over as 5 come off it.

16:45

Kaia out first ball

Zim 14-1 (2 ovs) vs Ind | Scorecard

Brian Bennett is the new man in and first ball he flashes his hands to the wide ball and gets a boundary through point to get off the mark.

Two dots later, Bennett gets an inside edge on to his pads.

Bennnett then gets an outside edge and the ball flies over the slip fielders for a four as 8 runs and a wicket come off it.

Mukesh opens at the other end, he bowls a full ball and Kaia gets an inside edge and plays on to the stumps and Kaia is out first ball.

Mukesh strikes first ball and Zimbabwe lose early wicket.

Zimbabwe openers Wessly Madhevere and Innocent Kaia come out to bat while Khaleel Ahmed opens the bowling and Marumani gets off the mark with a drive down the ground for a four.

A dot later, he cuts the ball past point for a couple.

Three dots to end the over as 6 come off it.

16:18

India have 3 debutants today

India's captain Shubman Gill has won the toss and elected to field against Zimbabwe in the 1st T20I in Harare on Saturday.

India has three debutants in Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.

Playing XIs:

Zimbabwe: T. Marumani, I. Kaia, B. Bennet, S. Raza (c), D. Myers, J. Campbell, C. Madande (wk), W. Masakadza, L. Jongwe, B. Muzarabani, T. Chatara

India: S. Gill (c), A. Sharma, R. Gaikwad, R. Parag, R. Singh, D. Jurel (wk), W. Sundar, R. Bishnoi, A. Khan, M. Kumar, K. Ahmed.

A new-look Indian T20 team will embark on a journey of self-discovery without their constant talismans, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, hoping to unearth their mainstays for the future in a five-match series against Zimbabwe starting in Harare on Saturday.

Even as the euphoria of T20 World Cup triumph sweeps through the length and breadth of India, Shubman Gill, who was a reserve in that squad, will hit a refresh button along with a bunch of IPL performers.

All the fresh faces are expected to make their international debut during the series scheduled to be played entirely in the Zimbabwean capital.

Two young men, who are lined for debuts could be Punjab's Abhishek Sharma, who had a stupendous IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad and the young Assamese lad Riyan Parag, who has given ample demonstration of his capabilities as a competent T20 batter. Both of them tick all the boxes for this format.

The skills and quality that the two modern greats brought to the table will be hard to replicate but as it is the order of nature, the old guard has to make way for the new one.

Zimbabwe certainly isn't the most formidable opposition but in T20 format, the gulf between sides is comparatively lesser than the other two traditional forms of the game.

The hosts, led by the gutsy Sikandar Raza, who played for Punjab Kings in the IPL recently, could prove to be a handful on nippy afternoons at the Harare Sports Club where the ball will jag around during the afternoon starts.

Some solid performances in this series will keep these youngsters in contention for future when the first team players of the world champion side are back on national duty.

Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be available from the third match onwards and some of the young men would only get a couple of games to prove their mettle.

1st T20I: Zimbabwe stun new-look India by 13 runs

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