Player of the Match
Player of the Match
2615dThe Report by Sidharth Monga

Raina, Dhoni ensure clean slate

Brendan Taylor scored an emotional century in his last match for Zimbabwe, but experienced the familiar agony of watching his side lose

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

BRM Taylor
BRM Taylor
138(110) 15x4 - 5x6
Control %84%
  • Productive Shot
  • off drive
  • 32 runs
  • 3x4 - 2x6
17 10 12 18 8 32 30 11
SK Raina
SK Raina
110(104) 9x4 - 4x6
Control %81%
  • Productive Shot
  • pull
  • 29 runs
  • 3x4 - 2x6
15 11 3 9 28 22 13 9

Best performances - Bowlers

UT Yadav
UT Yadav
O9.5
M1
R43
W3
Eco4.37
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
MM Sharma
MM Sharma
O10
M1
R48
W3
Eco4.80
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W

Scorer: Sanjay Murari | Commentator: Rohan Sharma

10.04 pm: India exit the group stages with six out of six wins to their name as they now look forward to facing Bangladesh in their quarter-final match-up at the MCG on March 19.

Zimbabwe, while they have played some wonderful cricket at times, have to head on the next jet to Harare, with Brendan Taylor leaving with some special memories from this tournament, having become the first and only Zimbabwean to score 400 runs in a single edition, not to mention, score back-to-back World Cup tons as well. But in the end, Raina's 110*, along with Dhoni's 85*, ensured India got over the line.

Now I could just give you the usual spiel to close this off, but I will let the master take it away. This is Rohan Sharma, signing off for ESPNcricinfo!

MS Dhoni, India captain: Even when Virat went in to bat, we felt a bit of pressure. Zimbabwe are a good side, but we were expected to win. The wicket really wasn't coming on nicely, and we didn't have enough pace to work with. Our lower order got a bit to bat. Raina is a key player for us at No. 5. The partnership between Raina and I was very good. Everyone has been put under pressure, whether the three fast bowlers or the spinners, or the top order in a few games. This is the difference between playing here and a bilateral series, where the lower order is hardly tested. That's why these games can be tough as the lower order have not got a lot of chances to bat. (What is it that has changed in the Indian team after the Tri-Series, to make this side better?) I think it is more the processes than the results. Also the way the boys have taken on their responsibilities quite well. We have been here for over three months now, and we need to give the guys some break in between, so getting fresh has helped as well. The fans have come in huge numbers, which has also gone a long way.

Brendan Taylor, Zimbabwe captain: We played some brilliant cricket, and have been shoddy at times. It hasn't been a lot in it though, just a few dropped catches, and maybe finishing off the death bowling, but overall we have played some good cricket. After 50 overs I would have taken 280, but the last four-five overs we should have got it up to 310-320. They played the better cricket, and while that dropped catch would have helped (Hamilton drop to Raina), India proved why they are the top of the group. It is nice to get a few runs, but it is sad to have ended. It has been a joyful ride though.

9.52 pm: Don't go anywhere just yet as we are expecting more quotes from the match presentation.

Suresh Raina, Man of the Match: I am glad the hard work came off. I thought the wicket was really good, and if ever I got the ball I can go after, then I would go after it. Once MS came, it certainly helped as well. When the team needed me the most, I just wanted to be positive and smart, especially in the Powerplays. Glad we were able to do it really well in the end. MS and I have played a lot of matches together, and have finished a lot of matches together. MS told me that I just can't smash every ball, but he did back my strengths on the field. (When asked if this was his most important ton?) It is a very important award to me, to add to my Man of the Match award from the U-19 World Cup as well.

9.48 pm: Spare a thought for Brendan Taylor, whose majestic 138 went in vain as Zimbabwe, at least in the first 20-25 overs of this chase, threatened to pull the rug from underneath India's feet, but fell away at the end to give India a firm grip on the game.

9.46 pm: This is India's highest successful run-chase in a World Cup match, not to mention their 10th consecutive World Cup match success on the trot. Raina and Dhoni rescued India with their 196-run stand, which is also a record for their highest five-wicket stand in a World Cup match.

48.4
6
Panyangara to Dhoni, SIX, and Dhoni finishes off the match in the grandest of style, sending this short delivery high over backward square to seal a six-wicket victory for India, and more importantly, ensure they go undefeated through the group stages
48.3
2
Panyangara to Dhoni, 2 runs, low full toss which is now sent screaming away to deep extra-cover, with the boundary rider doing really well to cut this off before the rope. Even though this match seems a foregone conclusion, the commitment was excellent. India now need 6 to win, with Dhoni on strike
48.2
1
Panyangara to Raina, 1 run, just guides this low full toss through long off for an easy single
48.1
0
Panyangara to Raina, no run, reaches out to this fuller one going across him, but fails to get it away

END OF OVER:
48 | 8 Runs | IND: 279/4 (9 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.81, RRR: 4.50)

  • Suresh Raina109 (102b)
  • MS Dhoni77 (74b)
  • Tendai Chatara10-1-59-0
  • Tawanda Mupariwa10-0-61-0

Abhishek: "This match has been eerily similar to the NZ vs Bang match."

47.6
1
Chatara to Raina, 1 run, shortish and on the stumps as Raina is hurried on the pull shot, but manages to send it to deep mid-icket
47.5
0
Chatara to Raina, no run, another slower ball from Chatara which Raina taps towards point, looking for the quick single, but Dhoni is not keen

Taylor's smashing end

70

Runs scored by Taylor in his last 29 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes). In his first 81 balls he made 68

New high for Zimbabwe

1

Number of Zimbabwean batsmen who've scored 400 or more in a World Cup - Taylor in the first. Previous best: 367 by Neil Johnson, 1999

Turning it on

71

Runs scored by Zimbabwe in ten overs between the 17th and the 26th. After 16 overs they had scored only 46

When in NZ, chase

12-7

The win-loss record for teams batting second in New Zealand in this tournament. In Australia, their record is 4-14

India on a hot streak

14

Number of successive ODIs India have won in ICC tournaments - 4 in the 2011 World Cup, 5 in the 2013 Champions Trophy, and 5 in this World Cup