The job was not as easy as the last two matches, but India were ultimately successful in getting the better of Zimbabwe by 13 runs in the third ODI. With this victory, KL Rahul’s boys achieved their primary objective of registering a clean sweep.
Chasing a target of 290, the Chevrons had a poor start with opening batter Innocent Kaia being dismissed with only 7 runs on the board, while Takudzwanashe Kaitano retired hurt after injuring himself in the process of hitting a six.
Zimbabwe’s batting unit could have easily collapsed like the previous matches, but veteran all-rounder Sean Williams prevented such an occurrence by playing a useful knock of 45 runs from 46 deliveries.
Following his dismissal, it was the turn of another experienced player, Sikandar Raza, to keep the scoreboard ticking. The likes of Tony Munyonga and Regis Chakabva got starts, but they could not capitalize on it to play a long inning.
Raza was waging a one-man war against Rahul’s bowlers, and understandably, odds were stacked against his favour. However, the 36-year-old played an incredible knock to not only bring up his sixth ODI century, but also take his team agonizingly close to the victory line.
Raza scored 115 runs from 95 deliveries, while pacer Brad Evans, who previously scalped a fifer, also did well to score 28 runs. However, both of them were dismissed in a span of five deliveries, which effectively ended the Chevrons’ hopes of beating India in an ODI game after 12 years.
From India’s perspective, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel combined well to pick four wickets while being economical, while the pace trio of Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan and Shardul Thakur proved to be expensive.
Shubman Gill's Maiden International Century Helped India Score 289 Runs
Earlier in the day, India scored 289 runs after batting first, courtesy of a sublime century from Shubman Gill and praiseworthy contributions from Ishan Kishan and Shikhar Dhawan.
The primary reason behind the decision was to give every batter a chance to find rhythm, including Rahul himself, as he scored only one run in the last match.
The 30-year-old had a slow yet composed start, but could it make it count as a Brad Evans delivery sent him packing when he was batting on 30. Soon, it was Shikhar Dhawan’s turn to depart for 40, but the veteran can be satisfied with his performances in this series.
Shubman Gill has undoubtedly been India’s batting kingpin on this tour, and despite not playing in his preferred role of an opener, the youngster played yet another spectacular knock.
Alongside Ishan Kishan, Gill added 140 runs for the third-wicket stand as India then looked on course to cross the 300-run mark. However, Kishan departed right after scoring his second ODI half-century, and Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson and Axar Patel were not successful in their audition for the finisher’s position.
Gill, however, continued taking the attack to Regis Chakabva’s bowlers, until he was dismissed in the very last over by Evans. Five wickets in only eight overs stunted India’s progress, but a couple of late boundaries by Shardul Thakur helped the men in blue register a score of 289 runs.
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