India Beat Zimbabwe By 13 Runs In 3rd ODI; Complete Clean Sweep Despite Raza's Valiant Ton
ZIM vs IND: After two one sided matches, the third ODI was the opposite as India batted first and let Zimbabwe chase. Sikandar Raza scored a valiant ton to bring the hosts close but team India held their nerve as they defeated Zimbabwe by 13 runs and clinched the series 3-0.
After Innocent Kaia fell in the third over, Sean Williams & Taikudzwanashe Kaitano etched a partnership of 34 runs for the second wicket. However, Kaitano was retired hurt and later was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav when he came out to bat again.
Williams then etched a partnership of 41 runs with Munyonga. However, Zimbabwe were looking in a spot of bother at 84/3 in 17.5 overs, but all-rounder Sikandar Raza played an excellent and almost won the match for his team. But he was dismissed in the 49th over courtesy of a brilliant catch by Shubman Gill, and Zimbabwe lost and were bowled out in the 50th over.
Raza was the top scorer with 115 runs in 95 balls with 9 fours & 3 sixes. For India, Avesh Khan picked up 3 wickets while Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel grabbed 2 wickets each while Shardul Thakur picked the important wicket of Sikandar Raza.
In the first innings, After missing out on a ton 3 times in 8 matches, young Shubman Gill notched his maiden ODI ton in the 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe, powering India to a total of 289/8 in 50 overs in the 3rd ODI.
Batting first, Indian openers started off cautiously with a slower run rate, etching a partnership of 63 runs in 14.5 overs. KL Rahul was the first to be dismissed after scoring 30 runs in 46 balls.
His opening partner Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed six overs later after scoring 40 runs. After that, youngsters Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan added 140 runs in 127 balls for the third wicket, laying the base for a huge total.
Shubman Gill remained the top scorer for team India with 130 runs off 96 balls with 15 fours & a six. For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans was the most successful bowler with his maiden 5-fer in ODI cricket. Apart from his, Luke Jongwe & Victor Nyauchi managed a wicket each.
Earlier, India captain KL Rahul won the toss & opted to bat first against Zimbabwe in the 3rd ODI. This match was played at Harare Sports Club, Harare.
Brief Score:
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India - 289/8 (Gill - 130(96), Evans - 5/54)
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Zimbabwe - 276/10 in 49.3 overs (Raza - 115(95), Avesh -3/66)