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India, on Monday, completed another series whitewash as they beat Zimbabwe in the 3rd and final ODI by 13 runs at the Harare Sports Club. Unlike the first two ODIs where India won the toss and opted to field first, they chose to bat first in the final ODI.
KL Rahul at the toss said, “Just want to challenge ourselves. I’ve been short of playing time so I’m eager to get some runs and spend time in the middle.”
Just when it seemed that Rahul (30 runs off 46 balls) had his eyes set to get a big score, Brad Evans had him out bowled claiming his first wicket for the day. Dhawan and Gill joined hands yet again, but Evans claimed his second as he sent Dhawan back for 40 runs off 68 deliveries.
With both the openers back in the dressing room, it was on Shubhman Gill and Ishan Kishan to stitch a partnership to get India to a good total. Gill and Kishan managed to build a 140-run partnership for the 3rd wicket that saw India reach 224-2 in the 42nd over from 84-2 in the 21st over.
The partnership saw Gill taking the aggressive route with a wonderful display of strokes all around the park, while Kishan played the second fiddle. In the 43rd over, Kishan was run out for 50 runs off 61 deliveries, just before Gill could reach to his three-figure mark.
The same over accounted for Hooda’s dismissal as Evans claimed his third wicket of the match. In the 3rd and final ODI against West Indies at the Port of Spain, Gill was stranded on run-a-ball 98 as rain interrupted play. He was hoping to get a hundred, but things were not under his control then.
Yesterday, there was no stopping for him as he registered his maiden ODI century of just 82 deliveries. Even when wickets kept falling at the other end, Gill kept going and ended up with a score of 130 runs off 97 deliveries (15 fours and 1 six). With that innings, Gill registered the highest individual ODI score by an Indian in Zimbabwe as India ended with a defending total of 289-8 at the end of 50 overs.
Brad Evans was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe as he claimed his maiden five-wicket haul that stopped India reach the 300-figure mark. During the chase, Zimbabwe lost Innocent Kaia in the 3rd over as India managed a successful DRS after Kishan convinced Rahul to go for it.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano retired hurt as he suffered with cramps. Tony Munyonga and Sean Williams stitched a 46-run stand before Axar claimed the wicket of Williams (45 runs off 46 deliveries) in the 17th over. Sikandar Raza walked in at number 4 when Zimbabwe were 82-2. Raza was in great form in the ODI and T20 series versus Bangladesh but couldn’t capitalise on the form in the first two ODIs versus India. Harare was in complete awe of what Raza did in the final ODI.
Raza notched up a wonderful 115 runs off just 95 deliveries that included 9 fours and 3 sixes. This innings by Raza literally overpowered the innings by Gill as the Indians were under constant pressure while Raza was at the crease. With 3 ODI centuries in a calendar year, Raza became just the 5th Zimbabwe player to do so. Wickets kept falling at the other end before Brad Evans joined hands with Raza.
After having a good outing with the ball, Evans combined with Raza for the eight-wicket stand of 104 runs off just 77 balls. Avesh Khan broke the partnership on the last ball of the 48th over as Evans (28 runs off 36 balls) was adjudged LBW. With 17 runs needed of the last 2 overs, it seemed that Zimbabwe and Raza are about to script history yet again.
But Shardul Thakur came to India’s rescue as he claimed the priced wicket of Raza on the 4th delivery of the 49th over. Raza tried to smash a slower one from Thakur over long-on, but Gill, who could do nothing wrong in the day, took an amazing diving catch just inches from the ground.
The entire Harare stadium applauded Raza’s innings as the Indian players were seen praising it too. With 15 needed of the final over, Avesh bowled Nyauchi to complete the proceedings as India won the game by 13 runs. It was Shubhman Gill who received the ‘Player of the Series’ award after getting one for the West Indies ODI series too.
KL Rahul collected the trophy and joined the team for the photographs and celebrations. India registered their third clean sweep in bilateral ODIs in 2022. The Zimbabwe players leave today for their next assignment versus Australia for a three-match ODI series at Townsville. The Indian team will be seen in action in UAE for the Asia Cup 2022 tournament that begins within a week.
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