Zimbabwe opt to bat against India

India may have capped five players in the first Twenty20 global against Zimbabwe on Friday, but wicketkeeper batsman Robin Uthappa felt that the players’ extensive experience in the Indian Premier League proved decisive.

Preview After a 3-0 ODI whitewash and a win in the first T20 worldwide, India would be looking to continue their dominance and complete the clean sweep when they take on a hapless Zimbabwe in the second and final T20 worldwide cricket match here on Sunday.

The crowd had been raved up by the good start by the two openers, Chibhabha and Masakadza, but they were soon silenced as wickets tumbled closely one after another.

Preview: India will hope to end the Zimbabwe tour on a high with a win in the second Twenty20 global at the Harare Sports Club.

Uthappa was less belligerent than his team-mates and it was his 35-ball knock which held the innings together, with Manish Pandey (19), Kedar Jadhav (9) and Stuart Binny (11) playing bit-part roles while a late unbeaten cameo of eight from three deliveries by Harbhajan also contributed.

Several Indian batsmen, namely Ambati Rayudu, skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Kedar Yadav and Murali Vijay, were among runs in the ODIs.

Given the good run of the side, Uthappa insisted that India wanted to finish strongly.

In reply, the hosts lost their first wicket in the eighth over, but were always behind the run-rate as they battled on the slow wicket. It was his maiden worldwide century.

Axar Patel, who picked up 3 wickets for 17 runs, took home the Man of the Match trophy for his performance with the ball.

In the series, Indian side was captained by Ajinkya Rahane, while the Zimbabwean side was captained by Elton Chigumbura. With more than five overs it was all over for Zimbabwe and the result was in no doubt even though Zimbabwe still had wickets intact.

Manish Pandey didn’t play in the first two matches of the series and made his debut in the third ODI.

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller.