Harare: India's victory in the third T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday was marked by Shubman Gill's captain's innings and a standout bowling display from Washington Sundar, who was declared Player of the Match.
After winning the toss, India opted to bat, setting a challenging target of 183 runs. Shubman led from the front with a commanding 66 runs, well-supported by Ruturaj Gaikwad's brisk 49. The duo's partnership, complemented by contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (36) and a late flourish from Sanju Samson (12*), propelled India to a formidable total of 182/4.
In response, Zimbabwe faced an uphill task and managed 159/6 in their 20 overs. Their innings started with early setbacks as they lost three wickets within the powerplay, setting them back significantly.
Despite a valiant effort from Dion Myers, who scored a resilient 65 off 49 deliveries including 7 boundaries and a six, Zimbabwe struggled to keep up with the required run rate.
Sundar's clever bowling dismissed key batsmen, including Sikandar Raza, further denting Zimbabwe's hopes. Although Myers and Madande mounted a brief recovery with a 77-run partnership for the sixth wicket, it wasn't enough to overhaul India's total.
Zimbabwe eventually fell short, highlighting India's disciplined bowling performance. Sundar led the attack with figures of 3/15, well-supported by Avesh Khan's 2/39, ensuring that Zimbabwe never got close to the target.
Throughout the match, India maintained control with strategic field placements and aggressive batting, securing their victory comprehensively. The result reaffirmed India's dominance in the series, now leading 2-1, as they look forward to consolidating their position in the remaining two matches of the T20I series.
Brief scores
India: 182/4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 66, Ruturaj Gaikwad 49, Yashasvi Jaiswal 36, Sanju Samson 12*). Zimbabwe: 159/6 in 20 overs (Dion Myers 65*, Clive Madande (37*), Washington Sundar 3/15, Avesh Khan 2/39). India won the match by 23 runs and leads the five-match T20I series 2-1.