Published: Jul 10, 2015, 08:18 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 10, 2015, 09:55 PM (IST)
Stuart Binny’s all-round performance along with an unbeaten ton by Ambati Rayudu could helped India beat Zimbabwe by four runs in a nail-biting finish in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Harare. Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura remained unbeaten on 104, but could not help his side get over the line. India take 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Full Updates: India vs Zimbabwe 2015, 1st ODI at Harare
Like India, Zimbabwe too got off to a bad start, losing opener Chamu Chibhabha early on. Vusi Sibanda made a slow start to his innings but fell for 20 as he mis-hit a pull short off the bowling of Binny, which went to Harbhajan Singh at mid-on. Hamiltom Masakadza seemed to be in good nick as he had gotten his eye in but he too was dismissed as he was trying to up the ante after the Indian bowlers had done a good job containing the batsmen. Sean Williams too fell for a duck soon after that. Full scorecard: India vs Zimbabwe 2015, 1st ODI at Harare
A quick-fire 48-run partnership between Chigumbura and Sikandar Raza reignited hopes but after Raza was dismissed for a 33-ball 37, playing one short too many, the responsibility to guide his team over the line rested with Chigumbura. He went on to score his second ODI ton and along with Graeme Cremer was looking to score some quick runs.
Zimbabwe went past 200 in the 44th over and were very much still alive in the competition. The Indian bowlers at the death did not bowl particularly well but it was enough to help India get over the line. Bhuvneshwar Kumar held his nerve in the final over, where Zimbabwe needed 10 to win. He gave away just five runs and India registered a slender win. Binny had earlier finished with figures of two for 54 and Akshar was excellent as his 10 overs produced two for 41.
Earlier, a gritty unbeaten century from Rayudu and an excellent half-century from Binny powers India to 255 for six against Zimbabwe in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Harare. India did not get off to an ideal start as they lost opener Murali Vijay for just one run, with just nine runs on the board. Rayudu then came on to join his skipper Ajinkya Rahane at No.3 and the duo put on 51 runs for the second wicket to put India in a slightly comfortable position.
But Donald Tripiano got rid of Rahane for 34 and three more wickets fell in quick succession after that. Chamu Chibhabha was the man to get rid of Manoj Tiwary for two and Kedar Jhadav for five and the run out of Robin Uthappa was squeezed in between those two wickets. India were in a spot of bother having lost half their side with just 87 runs on the board. That is when Binny walked in at No.7 as he began to resurrect the Indian innings along with Rayudu.
The duo not only scored runs but they did so in a manner where the run rate also increased. Both batted sensibly and did it without taking much risks. Zimbabwe bowlers toiled hard but were not able to get the batsmen out. Binny along the way scored his first ever fifty in ODIs and Rayudu too made the best use of this opportunity and scored his second ton soon after that.
Overall, India will be happy with the way they dug themselves out of trouble and have set a decent total for Zimbabwe to chase down. Zimbabwe have some good batsmen in their ranks and after an impressive display against Pakistan in the previous series, they will look to chase this total down as well. Binny was eventually dismissed for a well made 77. Rayudu and Binny put on 160 for the sixth wicket.
Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura won the toss and elected to bowl first. India’s skipper for the series, Rahane too said at the toss that he would have wanted to bowl in that pitch. India are going into the series with a weakened side as many of the senior players have been rested. India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh plays his first ODI match for India in over four years. He will be partnered by slow left-arm bowler Akshar Patel.
Brief scores:
India 255 for 6 in 50 Overs (Ajinkya Rahane 34, Ambati Rayudu 124*, Stuart Binny 77; Donald Tripiano 2 for 48, Chamu Chibhabha 2 for 25) beat Zimbabwe 251 for 7 in 50 Overs (Elton Chigumbura 104*, Sikandar Raza 37; Stuart Binny 2 for 54, Akshar Patel 2 for 41) by 4 runs.
Man of the match: Ambati Rayudu
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
