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Harare: MS Dhoni's young Indian brigade put a clinical performance to thrash Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the second ODI at Harare and seal off the three-match ODI series.
Team India put a clinical performance to thrash Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the second ODI at Harare and seal off the three-match ODI series.
Legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal's three-for spelt the doom of the struggling Zimbabwe batsmen and restricted them to 126.
In reply, Karun Nair held his nerve and led the resurgence despite losing the in-form KL Rahul.
It is MS Dhoni's first series win after 21 months, and first on Zimbabwe soil. There are a number of positives that can be drawn from India's second-string side, with young guns KL Rahul, Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah putting up match-winning performances.
However, Zimbabwe showed some life - for a brief period - that was lacking in the series opener as Chamu Chibhabha, who had struggled to 13 off 42 balls in the first ODI, showed some positive intent en route to his 21 off 26 balls, despite losing fellow opener Hamilton Masakadza (9) and Peter Moor (1) to Sran.
Vusi Sibanda too showed good intent notching up his 21st ODI fifty and helped Zimbabwe to 106 for 3 at the halfway mark in the innings, in company of Sikandar Raza (16).
The hosts were in a decent position, from which they could build on. Unfortunately, that did not happen and it went downhill quite fast. Zimbabwe were bundled out for 126 for nine in 34.3 overs. Sean Williams did not come out to bat owing to an injury.
Sibanda withered the early storm after finding himself early in the middle and took his time to settle. He was particularly strong on the onside taking four of his six boundaries towards the legisde and a clean hoist for a six off Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal who was miserly in the first innings was guilty of giving too much width and dished out quite a few loose deliveries in his first two overs.
Raza, who was batting on 16 off 39 looked to get a move on after Sibanda's fifty and decided to take on the leggie. Raza played against the spin and slog sweeped the ball straight down the throat of long-off, Kedar Jadhav.
Next ball, Zimbabwe's most accomplished player, Elton Chigambura was foxed by a straighter one and perished for a golden duck. Richmond Mutumbami survived the hat-trick ball, but Chahal got his man Sibanda in the next over. Another reckless shot similar to Raza's and Jadhav once again pounced on to an easy one, this time on the legisde
In the pursuit of series win, Rahul and Nair stitched a 58-run stand to dent the opposition's spirit. Nair had stroke of luck, as he edged a back-of-length delivery that was eventually given No-Ball. He made full use of his fortune and landed his team a comprehensive victory.
Brief scores
Zimbabwe - 126 (Sibanda 53, Chahal 3-25)
India - 129/2 (Rayudu 41*)
Result - India won by 8 wickets
