Player of the Match
Player of the Match

No one can take this away from Zimbabwe. That's the bottom line. They weren't bogged down by the brightest crop of Indian players, who have established themselves at the IPL and some, at the international level. They scrapped their way through to a memorable win and a 1-0 series lead. For a recap of how it happened, check out Ashish's report. More analysis coming up here on Cricinfo. So, check it out and join us again tomorrow.

Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe captain and POTM: Feel really happy. Gotta take one game at the time. Gotta enjoy this victory but job's not done. World champions will play like world champions, we gotta make sure we keep upping our game one game at a time. I don't think it's a 116 wicket, it's nor a wicket where you get all out for 103. So, credit to the bowlers from both sides especially given the sticky conditions in the winter. Likely to be slower and turn. (Do you remember the last time Zimbabwe beat India?) Was I not captaining that series, or that game? (was eight years ago) 115 wasn't many. I told not to care about the result, just wanted to show fight and give the crowd what they wanted. We didn't want to blown away. We were brilliant in the field. Not perfect, but that shows there's room for improvement. We knew the fans will be there encouraging us. We wanted to make use of the energy while batting, bowling fielding. And the crowd didn't let us down, the energy was up and kept us going. We felt like we were a team of 12, again

Shubman Gill, India captain: We bowled well, but we let ourselves down in the field. Looked a bit rusty. We wanted to take time, enjoy the batting, but didn't pan out that way. Halfway down, we'd lost five wickets. Would've been best if I'd stayed till the end. Disappointed with the way I got out and how it panned out. Washi kept hopes up. When you have to chase 115 and your No. 10 bat is the one you want winning you the game, you know something's gone wrong.

Clive Madande: Just wanted to bat throughout the innings. Trying to protect my partner while staying positive. Thankfully got to 115 in a low-scorer. Just told him to keep the straight bat. Gave him one-two balls to survive. On this type of pitch, slowish, we just needed to give it all.

Rakesh: "Well played Zimbabwe!! Lessons to be learnt from here for the young Indian team, lot of them will feel humbled by this sport today!"

4:32pm Take a breath. One Mississippi, two Mississippi. Zimbabwe, who were unable to make the World Cup because of a loss to Uganda, have beat the new-look version of the champions. The situation is laden with caveats but nothing can be taken away from the hosts, who were restricted to a low score on a pitch that looked much better than it played. The 25 runs made for the last wicket helped them bat through the innings and turn a modest chase into a tall climb. In the end, they had 13 too many.

19.5
W
Chatara to Washington Sundar, OUT, Skied. Muzarabani takes a tumbling catch and there's a huge pop from the crowd! A new-look Indian side have been humbled by Zimbabwe. Sundar and Khaleel trudge in disarray, the crowd are jubilant and the players exult. Was a shortish ball that Sundar had similarly pulled for four, but that was off Jongwe, not Chatara who has more pace. Ball skied off the splice to the right of the fielder. Great catch

Washington Sundar c Muzarabani b Chatara 27 (49m 34b 1x4 1x6) SR: 79.41

19.4
0
Chatara to Washington Sundar, no run, Mathematically Zimbabwe are through but Raza keeps everyone calm, signals everyone to do it at least. Was a wide length ball that was slapped. Mishit to long-off
19.3
0
Chatara to Washington Sundar, no run, Carved, brilliant save at deep cover point. Campbell has saved four, not two! Khaleel was almost at the striker's end but Sundar didn't run. Was a hard-length ball outside off that was lifted over the infield with a drive. Campbell scampered to the left and put in an athletic dive and manages to pull the ball in. Six runs saved off the last two balls
19.2
2
Chatara to Washington Sundar, 2 runs, Sundar gets it over short fine leg. Muzarabani zig-zags both sides on the chase, pulls it back, but did he do it in time? Big dive, right leg went over the ropes as he pushed it in. Third ump calls for the reverse angle - looks like the ball was out of the hands before he slid. Two saved
19.1
0
Chatara to Washington Sundar, no run, Hard length creates a dot and a cheer. Sundar cleared the front leg and wanted to clatter it with the cross bat. Underedged it right below

Sushil: "Deja Vu 16 needed from 6 like SA needed in the T20 WC final" Washington on strike. Chatara to bowl as the shadows lengthen

END OF OVER:
19 | 2 Runs | IND: 100/9 (16 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 5.26, RRR: 16.00)

  • Khaleel Ahmed0 (1b)
  • Washington Sundar25 (29b)
  • Blessing Muzarabani4-0-17-1
  • Luke Jongwe4-0-28-1
18.6
0
Muzarabani to Ahmed, no run, Khaleel curbs his instinct of wanting to feel bat on ball, taking this game to the final over. Was a shortish ball just outside off, he shaped to play it before coiling back. Hands on the body

Khaleel has one ball to survive. Zimbabwe take a moment to plan, send long-off out. There's activity behind the sight-screen, which Sundar notifies

18.5
1
Muzarabani to Washington Sundar, 1 run, Flashes, edge goes to deep third. Sundar does go through for the single.. Was a length ball outside off, he wanted to go square
18.4
0
Muzarabani to Washington Sundar, no run, A bit of width and it's carved but straight to deep point. The tension stays.
18.3
0
Muzarabani to Washington Sundar, no run, Sundar has a heave at a length ball and mishits to long-on. It got good bounce again, was angling away through fourth, Sundar stood upright and tried lumping with a cross-bat
18.2
0
Muzarabani to Washington Sundar, no run, Hard length over off, guided to deep third with a fully open bat face. No single

Chinmay Jariwal: "India need partnership of 5 runs more than what Zimbabwe managed for last wicket."

18.2
1w
Muzarabani to Washington Sundar, 1 wide, Goes wide, too wide. Muzarabani trying to hide it just inside the tramline but the fullish ball goes past it. Let go
18.1
0
Muzarabani to Washington Sundar, no run, The bounce gets big on Sundar. It's hard length and angles away through fifth, Sundar wanted to carve it square. Gets beaten

Muzarabani, arguably the best bowler on show today, takes over after a poor over.

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs | IND: 98/9 (18 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.44, RRR: 9.00)

  • Washington Sundar24 (24b)
  • Khaleel Ahmed0 (0b)
  • Luke Jongwe4-0-28-1
  • Sikandar Raza4-0-25-3

The Paris Olympics are fast approaching and we're just 20 days from the start of the world's biggest sporting carnival. Here's a look at the top 10 Indian medal prospects and their preparations for the showpiece event.

17.6
1
Jongwe to Washington Sundar, 1 run, Single comes via an inside edge. Perfect for India. Full and wide, Sundar wanted to push to cover, got it to deep-backward square leg. He won't complain
17.5
4
Jongwe to Washington Sundar, FOUR, Another bad ball and ice-cool Sundar capitalises. Shortish and down leg, with short fine leg in. Sundar got on one knee and had to reach out to lap it over the in-fielder, who was in to save the single. Got it into the outfield and that was enough
17.5
1w
Jongwe to Washington Sundar, 1 wide, Jongwe changes his plan. Goes for the wide yorker, misses his length and line. Sundar lets it go
17.4
6
Jongwe to Washington Sundar, SIX, Nailed this time! Another slower one, this wasn't as short but predictable nonetheless. Rose to around waist-height and Sundar pulled it way over deep midwicket
17.3
0
Jongwe to Washington Sundar, no run, Pulled. Not middled but the ball lost pace and was rolling in the gap to the right of deep midwicket. Seemed for a moment two was on but Sundar didn't want the run
17.2
0
Jongwe to Washington Sundar, no run, Slot and short outside off, bunt-pulled to long-on. Single turned down
17.1
0
Jongwe to Washington Sundar, no run, Full outside off, pushed to cover

Sundar will have to do it by himself as Khaleel won't offer much. Crowd have been humming along throughout

END OF OVER:
17 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 86/9 (30 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.05, RRR: 10.00)

  • Washington Sundar13 (18b)
  • Sikandar Raza4-0-25-3
  • Wellington Masakadza3-0-15-1
16.6
W
Sikandar Raza to Mukesh Kumar, OUT, Raza finishes his spell with a jaffa that goes through the gate!. He wheels away, Mukesh trudges back desolately. Looked a stock ball delivered with a cross-seam, landed on a shortish length on fifth and ragged back sharply to go between bat and pad. Mukesh tried to keep it out but couldn't play the right line. Raza, whose early overs had a few bad balls, has course-corrected and has taken his team to the point where they can win with one ball.

Mukesh Kumar b Sikandar Raza 0 (6m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

30 off 19 needed now

16.5
0
Sikandar Raza to Mukesh Kumar, no run, Keeper's confident with the stumping appeal, Raza unsure. Mukesh shakes his head, signalling he was in, before the replay loads. He was on the front foot, the back leg slid forward but never seemed to go past the line. He pushed back as the keeper quickly dislodged the bails and the third ump gives it not out. Was a length ball outside off that Mukesh tried to push with the full-faced bat
16.4
1
Sikandar Raza to Washington Sundar, 1 run, Single taken this time. Full ball around off worked to long-on

India 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0Shubman GillAbhishek Sharma
2nd15RD GaikwadShubman Gill
3rd7Shubman GillR Parag
4th0RK SinghShubman Gill
5th21Shubman GillDC Jurel
6th4Washington SundarShubman Gill
7th14Washington SundarRavi Bishnoi
8th23Avesh KhanWashington Sundar
9th2Washington SundarMukesh Kumar
10th16Washington SundarKK Ahmed