New Delhi: India won the second ODI to clinch the three-match ODI series. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe impressed with small partnerships and taking wickets at regular intervals. It was not a comfortable chase for the Indian side as it lost five wickets. Shardul Thakur, who replaced Deepak Chahar, was the MVP with the ball taking three wickets while Sanju Samson ended the affairs with a nice 43* off 39 balls.
Indian bowlers do the job again
Indian bowling unit looked good as Zimbabwe’s top order failed again. After Siraj dismissed Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Shardul Thakur struck twice in an over to dismiss Innocent Kaia and captain Regis Chakabva just after the powerplay. It was then the fifth partnership between Sean Williams and Sikander Raza which brought a ray of hope for the team. There was some drama in the 18th over regarding an lbw decision as the TV umpire asked the onfield umpire if he thinks the batter offered a shot to which the onfield umpire says yes. It was being checked as the impact does not matter if the batter has not played a shot. However, the TV umpire concluded that there was no shot offered and the ball went on miss the stumps.
After a 41-run partnership, Raza was dismissed by Kuldeep. Williams continued to play well along with Ryan Burl but eventually got out for run-a-ball 42. His strike rate of 100 was crucial for the team after a really slow start. Burl played on till the end and scored 39* off 47 deliveries as Zimbabwe ended with just 161 on the board. Thakur took three while others took one wicket each.
A matter of concern for the Indian side was the economy of some bowlers. Thakur went for 38 runs in 7 overs, but it has now become his style as he leaks some runs but takes wickets in return. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna too went for a few runs in the middle but bowled well overall. It was Kuldeep Yadav who can be considered a matter of concern as he gave more than six runs an over where the team scored at a run rate of 4.21, while he also broke the crucial partnership between Williams and Raza. After a catch in the second chance in the last game, fingers were raised on Samson’s keeping as he missed a stumping in the 37th over.
Not a 10-wicket win for India
There were talks about who should open with Shikhar Dhawan, eventually the captain decided he will take on the duty. Zimbabwe’s bowlers fulfilled every fan’s wish who expected Gill to open as KL Rahul departed in the second over. India also saw small partnerships like Zimbabwe. Dhawan and Gill posted a 42-run partnership before Chivanga took Dhawan by surprise with a short ball. Ishan Kishan was then bowled by Luke Jongwe for just six runs.
After Gill’s dismissal, it was Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson who took things under their control. A 56-run partnership between the two ensued a victory for India. Zimbabwe’s bowlers were expensive, but they will go home happy after taking five wickets this time.
