Shardul Thakur (3/38) and Sanju Samson (43 not eliminated) helped India to a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Shardul Thakur (3/38) and Sanju Samson (43 not eliminated) helped India to a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Sanju Samson produced an unbeaten lead 43 after a clinical display of bowling, led by pacemaker Shardul Thakur, as India cruised to a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead. three games here on Saturday.
It wasn’t a domination like the first ODI, but the paltry target of 162 runs meant the KL Rahul-led team didn’t have to break much of a sweat despite a mid-inning shake-up.
Sanju Samson is voted Man of the Match for his winning shot of 43* as India wins by 5 wickets.
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Zimbabwe pitched for 161
Sent to the bowl, comeback man Thakur (3/38 in seven overs) set him up brilliantly and became the smasher-in-chief as the Indian bowlers once again came out on top to defeat Zimbabwe 161.
In the absence of Deepak Chahar, who missed out after his exploits in the last ODI, Thakur made his presence felt and shook Zimbabwe’s top order with his double strike in 12th.
Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill then displayed their same style and authority, even as the duo batted from different positions this time, posting identical scores of 33.
But the duo couldn’t bring the team home this time as India endured some anxious moments in the middle following Dhawan’s departure.
Luke Jongwe (2/33) produced a double whammy, dismissing Ishan Kishan (6) and a well-placed Shubman Gill in successive overs, to cut India to 97-for-four at the drinking break.
Hooda, Samson combine to secure an easy win
But with just 65 runs needed from 36 overs, Deepak Hooda and Samson produced a sensible 56-run position together to pretty much seal the fate of the match.
With nine runs to win, Hooda was pushed by Sikandar Raza, but Samson remained undefeated at 43 (39 balls; 2×4, 4×6) and closed it out with a six-legged Innocent Kaia spin in the 26th.
Indian players celebrate a wicket during the second one-day international match against Zimbabwe in Harare on August 20, 2022. | Photo credit: AP
Having posted an unbroken 192 runs in their previous victory, Dhawan and Gill did not start together this time with skipper Rahul opting to go alongside the former.
Rahul returns to the starting job
In the first ODI, Rahul, returning to action after nearly three months following sports hernia surgery and a COVID outbreak, chose to go with Dhawan and Gill as the two starters.
The duo recorded an unbroken standing of 192 runs to shape India’s 10-wicket win.
But Rahul returned to his usual spot on Saturday, only to exit LBW pacemaker Victor Nyauchi after missing the ball line.
This was Rahul’s first cap since his 49-run start against the West Indies in an ODI in Ahmedabad on February 9.
After Rahul’s brief stay, Dhawan and Gill were back to business as usual, as the duo picked up where they left off in the first ODI here two days ago.
Indian bowlers excel
Earlier, Sean Williams played a fast break and scored for the hosts with a run-a-ball 42 (1-6, 3-4) after his team fell to 31/4 in the 13th.
India brought in Deepak Hooda, a part-time player, to give the much-needed breakthrough in the form of Williams, who opted for a premeditated tug to be taken on the deep square leg by Shikhar Dhawan.
Ryan Burl made a 47-ball 39 with limit three and one six, but was left without teammates as Zimbabwe couldn’t come back. His last three wickets fell in just eight balls which included breakaways from Victor Nyauchi and Tanaka Chivanga.
It would have been worse for the hosts had India not been sloppy on the pitch, as goalkeeper Samson missed a shot and dropped a difficult catch against Axar Patel, while Kuldeep Yadav missed a nanny at his own bowling alley.
Mohammed Siraj (8-2-16-1) and Prasidh Krishna (6.1-1-28-1) unsettled the struggling Zimbabwe top order after KL Rahul opted to field, denying batsmen much-needed practice. before Asia. Bowl.
But the bowlers didn’t care.
Good rhythm, swing
On a hard-carrying, bounce-back Harare SC surface, the duo managed good pace, swing and troubled the former with some good long deliveries as the hosts managed just one run in the first three overs.
Siraj made a breakthrough in the eighth before Thakur and Krishna sprang into action.
Sikander Raza and Wiliams managed a 40-run partnership before Kuldeep hit. Raza tried to attack but only managed to cut the ball away for Ishan Kishan to complete a well-timed catch to trigger a collapse.
The third ODI is scheduled for August 22.
Marker
Zimbabwe 161, 38.1 overs (S. Williams 42, R. Burl 39 not out; Shardul Thakur 3-38); India 167-5, 25.4 overs (Sanju Samson 43 not out, Shikhar Dhawan 33, Shubman Gill 33; L. Jongwe 2-33). India win by 5 wickets
Source: www.thehindu.com