Key Highlights
- India won the toss and chose to bat first
- KL Rahul made 51 (35) runs
- SKY and Pandya had partnership of 65 off 35 balls.
- SKY scored 61 off 25 balls, and completed his 1000+ runs in T20Is
- India posted a mammoth score of 186-5 in 20 overs.
- India bowlers dismissed 5 wickets of Zimbabwe in first 10 overs.
- Ashwin took 3 crucial wickets for India
- India won by 71 runs
In the final league game of the T20 World Cup played at MCG on Sunday, India and Zimbabwe locked horns. If Zimbabwe would have won today, they would qualify for the T20 WC 2024.
India posted a massive total of 186-5, thanks to Suryakumar’s spectacular performance of 61* (25). After KL Rahul’s fifty, Zimbabwe was able to slightly recover, dismissing Rahul, Kohli, and Pant within 30 balls post drinks. However, Suryakumar once more displayed his class. It was something we got to see during the Asia Cup, and it has happened again. SKY kept the crowd completely amused with his trademark scoop shots and some mesmerising lofted strokes over cover. He catered to the emotions of the Zimbabwean bowlers, who were helpless against that onslaught from the top-ranked T20I batsmen.
SKY and Pandya built a crucial stand of 65 off 35 balls that helped India posted a massive total of 186 in 20 overs.
In response to the fireworks of India, Zimbabwean team looked nervous and under pressure right from the first over. Bhuvneshwar opened the attack for India and dismissed Madhevere on the very first bowl of his opening maiden over. In the next over, Arshdeep sent Chakabva to the pavilion on a golden duck. After 2 overs, Zimbabwe stuttered to make 3 runs and lost 2 wickets. Chakabva is the first bowler in T20 WC 2022 who got dismissed for single figure scores 6 times in a single edition of the T20 World Cups.
Williams tried to stabilize the inning of his team but was dismissed by Shami in the last over of the powerplay. In the powerplay, Zimbabwe could only manage to make 37 runs, losing 3 wickets. India completely dominated the powerplay
Just after Powerplay, Pandya came into attack and dismissed Ervine 13 (15) in a caught and bowled style. In the next over, Munyonga got leg before out on a seaming delivery by Shami.
After 10 overs, Zimbabwe scored 59-5 and Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl were on the crease. Raza completed his 3000 T20I runs today. Burl and Raza take on the Indian spin duo, Ashwin and Axar, hitting 28 runs in just 2 overs. Ashwin dismissed Burl in the 14th over while Raza survived a close stumping appeal from Pant.
In the 16th over, Ashwin dismissed Masakadza 1(7) and Ngarava 1 (2) while Pandya dismissed Raza in the 17th over, breaking the backbone of Zimbabwe.
Axar bundled the opponent at a score of 115 in 17.2 overs. India won the game by a big margin of 71 runs.