Dhawan Drives India To 2-0 Series Lead

Dhawan Drives India To 2-0 Series LeadShikhar Dhawan hit a century as India posted a 58-run win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI

India 294-8 (Dhawan 116, Karthik 69) beat
Zimbabwe 236-9 (Unadkat 4-41) by 58 runs
Second One-Day International, Harare
Scorecard

Shikhar Dhawan scored his third One-Day International century to set up a convincing 58-run win for India over Zimbabwe in the second match in Harare.

India's eventual victory, which puts them 2-0 up in the five-match series, was not without alarm, as they slipped to 65 for four when batting first only for Dhawan (116) and Dinesh Karthik (65) to revive the innings, which they closed on 294 for eight.

Although Zimbabwe made a good start, they lost ground quickly and closed on 236 for nine despite an 88-run stand for the seventh wicket between Elton Chigumbura (46) and Prosper Utseya (52 not out).

The key part of the game was the period between the fall of Zimbabwe's second wicket - at 109 in the 21st over, and the 31st over, by which time they had lost four more wickets and added just 24 runs as India pulled out the ultimate double whammy - a stack of wickets resulting in a dramatic increase to the required run-rate.

Although Chigumbura hit four fours and a six and Utseya hit five fours, their efforts were little more than damage limitation and at least prevented the Zimbabweans from being bowled out inside 50 overs.

Earlier in the day, things were looking rosy for the men in red, as Brian Vitori (2-27), Kyle Jarvis (1-70) and Tendai Chatara (1-46) made short work of Rohit Sharma (1), Virat Kohli (14), Ambati Rayudu (5) and Suresh Raina (4) to put India under pressure.

Through Dhawan and Karthik, they responded magnificently. Dhawan reached his century in 115 balls while Karthik made a well-paced 69 in 74 balls with six fours.

Dhawan struck 11 fours and two sixes and the pair put on 167 for the fifth wicket and after their dismissals, further runs came courtesy of Ravindra Jadeja (15) and Ranganath Vinay Kumar, who thumped 27 not out in 12 balls to keep India in the driving seat.

Sikandar Raza impessed in the opening game by hitting 82 but was the first batsman to fall on this occasion, making 20 before he was caught by man-of-the-moment Dhawan for 20 although Vusi Sibanda's 55 and 34 in 47 balls from Hamilton Masakadza kept Zimbabwe in the game.

Then India took control during a 10-over period that swung the game. First, Brendan Taylor was run out without scoring by Jaydev Unadkat four balls after Sibanda was caught by Amit Mishra off the same bowler.

Sean Williams was trapped in front by Jadeja for five and Malcolm Waller leg before to Mishra for two either side of Masakadza being caught by Shami Ahmed off leg-spinner Mishra.

After that, Chigumbura and Utseya showed defiance aplenty but the game was gone - not that Unadkat had stopped giving his all, as he bowled Jarvis (2) and Vitori (0) to end with figures of four for 41.

Utseya was left unbeaten at the other end on 52 in 62 balls.

The third match is on 28th July.

© Cricket World 2013

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India Romp To Series Win

Amit Mishra took four wickets as Zimbabwe struggled with the bat. Action Images / Andrew Boyers Livepic

India 187-3 (Kohli 68no, Chatara 1-34) beat
Zimbabwe 183 (Mishra 4-47) by seven wickets
Third One-Day International, Harare
Scorecard

World champions India wrapped up the Celkon Mobiles One-Day International series with two games in hand after cruising to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Harare.
India now lead the five-match series 3-0 as the tour heads to Bulawayo for the remainder of the games starting this Thursday.

Again Virat Kohli (68 not out) played a true captain’s role as he stirred India to 187 for three in 35.3 overs overs; easily surpassing Zimbabwe’s 183 squeezed from 46 overs.

Another toss win for India and bowling election, second in the series, was cancerous for Zimbabwean batsmen who failed to adapt to the severely swinging conditions in the morning.

As it may, it turned out to be a real test as India’s Vinay Kumar (1-32) got the breakthrough with the third ball of match when he had Vusi Sibanda, who looked to attack but miscued and skied his efforts to a running Shikhar Dhawan, out for a duck.

It even got better for the Men in Blue in the next over as Sikandar Raza Butt (1) edged Mohammed Shami (2-25) behind to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik to leave Zimbabwe reeling at two for two.

Hamilton Masakadza (38) and skipper Brendan Taylor (23) came to the middle probably earlier than they would have liked and re-commenced the innings with a 65-run stand for the third wicket.

The duo looked good to set the platform but Taylor was sharply caught by Shami off Jaydev Unadkat (1-24) in a dismissal that needed TV umpire Owen Chirombe to decide although most fans thought the ball had touched the ground.

It never rained but poured for the hosts and this time spinner Amit Mishra removed Masakadza and Malcolm Waller for a golden duck in successive deliveries; putting Zimbabwe in a spot of bother of 80 for five in 19.5 overs.

Zimbabwe never showed signs of recovery and they were further plunged into crisis as Elton Chigumbura (3) was trapped lbw by Ravindra Jadeja (1-39) while Prosper Utseya (10) was caught behind by Karthik off Shami.

A brief resistance by Sean Williams (45) gave Zimbabwe a bit of light in the dark tunnel but this wasn’t long before he was run out by a combination of Jadeja and Karthik with the scoreboard reading 133 for eight in 34.3 overs.

Tail-enders Tendai Chatara (23) and Brian Vitori (17) patiently took Zimbabwe past the 150-run mark and tried to resuscitate the innings with 34 runs for the ninth-wicket partnership in a case where both players notched up their career bests.

It took Chatara seven games to get his first international run.

Nevertheless, Vitori succumbed to Mishra as he edged him to provide Karthik his fourth catch of the match thus bringing in debutant Mike Chinouya (6 not out) to the crease.

However, both Chatara’s cameo and Zimbabwe’s innings finally came to a halt in the 46th over when man of the match Mishra (4-47), the pick of the Indian bowlers, knocked his off stump with a googly thus completing his four-wicket haul.

India were simply sensational in their run chase for a meager total. Even the aggression from the Zimbabwean bowlers in the power-play couldn’t do much to peg the World Champions.

Chinouya had his first international wicket when he forced Rohit Sharma (14) to edge to wicketkeeper Taylor in sixth over before Chatara had dangerman Dhawan (35) brilliantly caught by Sibanda.

From 67 for two, a 64-run third-wicket stand between Kohli and Ambati Rayudu ensued and brought India closer to reaching their destination.

India lost Rayudu (33), caught and bowled by Vitori, with 52 runs to win thus bringing in Suresh Raina (28 not out) who stood by his skipper until victory was attained with 87 more balls remaining.

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Kohli Ton Inspires India To Victory

Kohli Ton Inspires India To VictoryIndia captain Virat Kohli scored a majestic century to set up India's win over Zimbabwe

India 230-4 (Kohli 113, Rayudu 63no) beat
Zimbabwe 228-8 by six wickets
First One-Day International, Harare
Scorecard

Captain Virat Kohli led from the front in scoring a century to inspire India to a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first One-Day International in Harare.

Kohli hit 115 in 108 balls as India, 230 for four in 44,5 overs, successfully chased down Zimbabwe’s 228 for seven with 31 balls to spare.

India’s triumph was historic as Kohli featured in record-breaking 159-run third-wicket partnership with debutant Ambati Rayudu (63 not out) who enjoyed a remarkable start to his international cricket career.

The record stand became the highest second-wicket partnership by India against Zimbabwe surpassing the 143 set by Sachin Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja in Singapore in 1999.

Losing the toss and being sent in to bat didn’t deter Zimbabwe as openers Sikandar Raza Butt and Vusi Sibanda played with caution to put up a rather sluggish 72 for opening stand from 21.5 overs on a greenish, dry wicket.

Raza Butt (82) justified his selection to open the bat as he played diligently and went to score his maiden half-century in only his fourth appearance for the Chevrons - as Zimbabwe are affectionally known.

But Zimbabwe’s desire to add venom to their run-rate was thwarted when Amit Mishra (3-43) trapped Sibanda (34) lbw.

Zimbabwe’s 100 only came up in the 29th over and this wasn’t long before they lost their second wicket of Sean Williams (15), who was promoted up to number three, bowled by Suresh Raina (1-2) in his only over.

India had utilised another opportunity to cripple the run-rate in the middle period when they captured the core of Zimbabwe’s middle order of Hamilton Masakadza (11), captain Brendan Taylor (12) and Malcolm Waller (2); leaving the score at 166 for five in 40,1 overs.

Zimbabwe needed a bit of firepower in their innings upon entering the slog overs and hopes had been pinned on Raza Butt who had been around to cause trouble for the Indians. Sadly Raza Butt was Zimbabwe’s sixth wicket and Mishra’s third having contributed six fours and two sixes in the hosts 176.

All-rounder Elton Chigumbura came out and became the key to Zimbabwe setting a total they would have something to field for. Chigumbura smashed six fours and a six as he showed urgency in scoring with an unbeaten 34-ball 43.

The ex-skipper was briefly rallied by Tino Mutombodzi (8) who was caught at point by Vinay Kumar (1-57) and lastly, Prosper Utseya who remained unbeaten on eight when innings folded at 228 for seven.

Mohammed Shami (1-45) and debutant Jaydev Unadkat (1-39) also picked a scalp each for India in the clamp down.

In reply, India’s lethal opening pair Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma was kept at bay as Zimbabwe pressed on in the power-play searching for an early upset.

The Chevrons were still alive in the game when they got India guessing at 57 for two by the 13th over.

Kyle Jarvis (1-40) removed Dhawan (17); caught at fine leg by Waller trying to pull only finding top edge while Chigumbura (1-30) found Sharma’s edge to wicketkeeper Taylor for 20.

But the coming in and settling of Kohli and Rayudu had a serious negation on the Zimbabweans. The duo was expected to rebuild the innings against a charging Zimbabwean bowling attack – a thing they did to perfection.

India’s 100 was up in the 23rd over as India went into the driving seat with such ease as the Zimbabwean bowlers grew weary.

Kohli clobbered 13 fours and a six to mark his 15 ODI century whilst Rayudu contributed four fours in his maiden half-century.

When man of the match Kohli was finally caught by Sibanda off Utseya (2-34), the damage had already been done as India required just 12 runs to win.

Two balls later, Utseya was celebrating again when he got Raina brilliantly caught by Raza Butt for a duck.

Rayudu took the honours of hitting the winning runs off leg spinner Mutombodzi.

© Cricket World 2013

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