Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 18-Ball Fifty Powers India to Easy Win Over Zimbabwe
India defeated Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashing a blistering 18-ball 50 to help the visitors chase down 126 in just 13.2 overs.
India got off to a flying start, reaching 22 runs in the first two overs. Sooryavanshi smashed 19 runs off Richard Ngarava in the second over. Zimbabwe hit back in the following over, with pacer Blessing Muzarabani dismissing Abhishek Sharma for just one run.
However, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his aggressive batting, smashing a series of boundaries over the next two overs as India raced to 52/1 after five overs, with Sooryavanshi on 48. At the end of the powerplay, India reached 66/1, putting themselves in a commanding position.
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During the seventh over, Sooryavanshi completed his maiden international fifty in just 18 deliveries, with four fours and four sixes. However, in the very next delivery, Richard Ngarava dismissed the 15-year-old sensation.
Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan helped India reach 96/2 by the end of the 10th over. However, Muzarabani struck again in the third ball of the 12th over, dismissing Kishan for 35 off 24 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.
Tilak Varma and skipper Shreyas Iyer guided India to victory in the 14th over, as the Men in Blue chased down the target with seven wickets in hand. Iyer remained unbeaten on 28 off 24 balls, including three fours, while Tilak Varma finished not out on six runs.
Earlier, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first, backing a fresh bowling unit that included debutant pacer Ashok Sharma. The decision paid off immediately as India's fast bowlers created early pressure and dismantled Zimbabwe's top order.
India's bowling attack produced a disciplined performance to restrict Zimbabwe to 125/7 in 20 overs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
A brilliant opening spell from pacer Mayank Yadav, supported by effective death-over bowling by Prince Yadav, kept the hosts from building a big total.
(With inputs from ANI)