Press Trust of India
Harare, July 12: India rode on a solid all-round performance to comfortably crush Zimbabwe by 62 runs in the second ODI here Sunday, thereby taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match cricket series.
Batting first, India scored a decent 271 for eight in 50 overs largely due to a 112-run opening stand between Murali Vijay (72, 95b, 1×4, 2×6 ) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (63, 83b, 7×4). Both batted patiently to establish a strong platform for the visitors.
In reply, Zimbabwe managed to score only 209 in 49 overs as the Indian bowlers maintained their stranglehold on the opposition throughout the entire duration of the hosts’ innings.
Losing three wickets in the first 11 overs including that of skipper and last match’s centurion Elton Chigumbura (9) turned the match decisively in India’s favour.
Chamu Chibhabha (72, 100b, 9×4) top-scored but that was never going to enough for the home team to cross the finishing line in this match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4/33) was the pick of the Indian bowlers and along with Dhawal Kulkarni (1/39)) provided initial breakthroughs while spinners Harbhajan Singh (1/29) and Axar Patel (1/40) kept a tight leash on the hosts’ batsmen.
Unlike the first match, Indian team were far better in both departments as they upped their game by a few notches.
During the Indian batting, both Vijay and Rahane took a safety first approach against the white Duke ball that was doing bit in the air and off the pitch in cool conditions.
Playing for their places when the first team players come back, it was understandable that both Rahane and Vijay had a strike-rate of less than 80. But they did create a platform for a decent enough score.
In-form Ambati Rayudu contributed 41(50b, 3×4) carried on the good work after their departure. Manoj Tiwary (22) and Robin Uthappa (13) however missed yet another opportunity to impress the selectors and team management for a long-term slot in the squad. Stuart Binny (25, 16b, 3×4) took the Indian score past the 270-run mark.
When Zimbabwe batted, it was Kulkarni, who struck the first blow removing Vusimuzi Sibanda (two), caught at point by Vijay. The experienced Hamilton Masakadza (five) gave a regulation catch to Robin Uthappa behind the stumps of Bhuvneshwar. A lot was expected of Chugumbura but the Zimbabwean captain was dismissed to a smart piece of slip catching from skipper Rahane as the hosts were down in the dumps at 43 for three and eventually could not recover from early slump.
