Zimbabwe vs India 2nd-T20I Results

Right then, that's all from what turned out to be a lopsided affair. After a shock defeat in the opening game, India were expected to bounce back, and they did so clinically to bring the five-match series on level terms. The teams will have a couple of days' rest now, and the third T20I will take place on Wednesday, 10th July, with the first ball to be bowled at 4.30 pm IST (11 am GMT). As always, our build-up will begin much sooner. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The skipper of India, Shubman Gill says that he is happy to get the win. States that it was not easy to bat in the Powerplay with the ball doing a bit and lauds the way Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma compiled their innings. Shares that they are a young side and in the first game, it was more about not being able to handle the pressure. Adds that it was good to be put under pressure in the first game and they knew what to expect in this game. Hopes that the batters keep firing.

Abhishek Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his scintillating maiden century. He begins by saying that he is delighted. Says it was not a great outing with the bat in the first match, and not only for him but also for the team as a whole. Adds that he just wanted to express himself and felt like it was his day the way he was striking the ball from the get-go. He says after his catch was dropped, he thought it was his day and he took the charge. Also appreciates Ruturaj Gaikwad and says that he helped him in keeping his perspective. Further adds that he believes in his hitting ability. Mentions that momentum plays a crucial role in T20 cricket. And also says if it is in the arc, he believes he needs to get it over the fence regardless.

The captain of Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza says that the World Champions played like World Champions in this game. Feels that dropping catches hurt them and need to get better in that facet of the game. Tells that he expected 200 on this wicket and the surface did not change much in the second inning. Reckons that they gave away 20-30 runs too many. He says that it would have been a different story had they had wickets in hand after the Powerplay. Mentions that he is happy with the way the batters came out firing but feels that the top order is not as consistent as they should be. Lauds Blessing Muzarabani for the way he bowled and tells that he has grown leaps and bounds.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Ravi Bishnoi is up for a flash interview. He says it was a disappointing outing in the first game, but they made a great comeback in this match. Says he is very delighted with the way he is bowling and is happy to contribute to the team's win. He says there was no real turn in the pitch but the ball skidded through quickly which made the batters hurry into their shots. On being asked about the T20 World Cup victory, Bishnoi says that the celebrations are still on, and rightly so. Says it has been a long wait and they will keep celebrating for a long time.

Earlier in the game, the toss went India's way and Shubman Gill had no hesitation in opting to bat first. Zimbabwe struck early again through Blessing Muzarabani, removing the Indian skipper. However, Abhishek Sharma immediately made his intentions clear and shifted gears as his innings progressed. Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled initially, but Abhishek's aggressive stroke play allowed Gaikwad to settle into his innings. Dropped when he was on 27, Abhishek made Zimbabwe pay dearly for that error by scoring his maiden international ton. After Sharma fell, Ruturaj joined hands with Rinku Singh to ensure a strong finish for India. India scored 160 off their last 10 overs to finish with a commanding total of 234. For Zimbabwe, Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani bowled tidy spells upfront but the former took a beating towards the end.

As for Zimbabwe, after the high of their famous win in the series opener, they have been humbled by India in this game. With their backs against the wall at the halfway mark, a good Powerplay was crucial to their fortunes in the chase. Despite the early setback, Brian Bennett did not shy away from playing his shots. However, his aggressive approach soon led to his downfall. Sikandar Raza was bounced out, and the hosts could never really recover from losing 4 wickets in the Powerplay. Wessly Madhevere struggled to get going, and with wickets falling around him, it became even more difficult for him to get out of the rut. Madhevere and Luke Jongwe displayed stiff resistance, but the writing was on the wall inside the Powerplay, and the hosts were eventually bowled out for 104.

An emphatic win for India to draw level in the series! A dominant effort with both bat and ball sees the Men in Blue secure a victory by 100 runs, the joint-highest margin of victory in terms of runs against Zimbabwe in Men's T20Is, with Australia being the other team to win by the same margin. Having finished well with the bat, India were able to take momentum into their bowling effort. The visitors were able to take the wind out of Zimbawbwe's sails thanks to two wickets apiece by Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan inside the first four overs. Just like the first game, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar dominated the middle phase and never really let Zimbabwe off the hook. Brought back into the attack, Mukesh and Avesh answered the skipper's call and performed the cleanup job.

Mukesh Kumar to Luke Jongwe, OUT! c Ruturaj Gaikwad b Mukesh Kumar.OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! India win by 100 runs and level the series by 1-1. Total dominance out there in the field in all three domains by the Men in Blue. Mukesh Kumar pins in a fuller-length delivery outside off, Luke Jongwe opens the face of the bat but slices it uppishly, flat, and straight down the throat of Ruturaj Gaikwad at deep third. A strong comeback from India after a dismal performance in the series opener. Hugs and handshakes around with delighted Indian faces.

Mukesh Kumar to Luke Jongwe, 2 runs.Bowls it on a length, outside the off stump. Jongwe reaches for it and slashes to deep point for a couple of runs.

Mukesh Kumar to Luke Jongwe, No ball and Four!NO BALL AND FOUR! A high full toss on the bodyline, Luke Jongwe stands upright and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Free Hit to follow.

Mukesh Kumar to Luke Jongwe, Four!MISFIELD AND FOUR! Firmly driven down the ground Misses the yorker and serves a low full toss on the stumps, Luke Jongwe spanks it down the ground. Mukesh Kumar does get his fingertips at it but deflects it behind him. Abhishek Sharma there runs to his left from long on but is a bit casual in his approach to make the stop and the ball breaches the fence.

Mukesh Kumar to Luke Jongwe, No run.Mukesh comes back into the attack, and bowls on a fullish length and outside off, Luke Jongwe clears his front foot and swings hard at it but only meets thin air.

Avesh Khan to Tendai Chatara, No run.Another half-tracker on off, Tendai Chatara goes to ramp it away but misses.

Avesh Khan to Tendai Chatara, No run.Over the stumps bowls does Avesh, bangs a short one again outside off, Tendai Chatara swooshes at it but misses.

Tendai Chatara is the last man in for Zimbabwe.

Avesh Khan to Blessing Muzarabani, OUT! c Washington Sundar b Avesh Khan.OUT! IN THE AIR AND SUNDAR TAKES IT EASILY! Zimbabwe 9 down now. Avesh Khan continues to bowl on a short length, just around off, Blessing Muzarabani goes for a half-hearted pull shot and gets a leading edge that flies up in the air. Washington Sundar stationed at mid on runs a few steps ahead and takes a simple catch. Avesh Khan gets his second wicket and India is just one wicket away from a clinical victory.

Avesh Khan to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Bowls almost a half-tracker on the top of middle, Luke Jongwe stays leg side and shuffles down the leg side before cutting it through the off side for one.

Avesh Khan to Blessing Muzarabani, 1 run.Outside off on a hard length, Blessing Muzarabani throws his bat at it and chops it to deep third for a single.

Avesh Khan to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.On the back of a length outside off, Luke Jongwe cuts it past cover-point for a single. Rinku Singh runs in to his right from deep point and keeps it to just a single.

Avesh Khan to Luke Jongwe, Wide!WIDE! Sees the batter shuffling across off for a scoop shot, Avesh bowls it even further away outside the wide guideline. Wided.

Ravi Bishnoi to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Another wrong'un on offer, slightly on a pulled-back length, around off, Luke Jongwe watches the ball closely, goes back and across and guides it in front of short third for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Blessing Muzarabani, 1 run.A googly on a fuller length, turning in from off, Blessing Muzarabani reads it well and strides out before working it towards widish mid-wicket for one.

Ravi Bishnoi to Blessing Muzarabani, No run.Bishnoi follows up with a regular leg-break in front of the stumps. Blessing Muzarabani blocks it out.

Blessing Muzarabani is the new man in.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wessly Madhevere, OUT! b Ravi Bishnoi.OUT! YOU MISS I HIT! THROUGH THE GATES! Ravi Bishnoi gets his second wicket! He bowls it very close to the bodyline on a length, on a flatter trajectory, angling to the leg stump line. Wessly Madhevere gives Bishnoi the charge but gets cramped up for room as he tries to play it across the line. The ball is too close to execute that shot and Madhevere fails to connect. The ball sneaks through the gap between the bat and the pad to dismantle the furniture.

Ravi Bishnoi to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Flat and quick on the middle, Luke Jongwe bends low and eases it in front of point for a quick single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Over the wicket, in front of the pegs, full in length, Wessly Madhevere shuffles well outside leg and punches it between mid off and covers for one.

Washington Sundar to Luke Jongwe, No run.Nice and slow, full and just outside off, Luke Jongwe plays inside the line of the as he expects the ball to turn into him but it straightens up instead. As a result, he gets beaten on the outside edge.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Full and on the stumps, this is clipped away to deep mid-wicket by Wessly Madhevere for one.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 2 runs.Pushes it through, full and around off, Wessly Madhevere gets down on a knee, and lifts it over the bowler's head for a brace.

Washington Sundar to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Short and spinning into the batter from off, Luke Jongwe hangs back and pulls it towards widish mid-wicket for one.

Washington Sundar to Luke Jongwe, 2 runs.Good piece of running there by the two batters! Good length and on off, Luke Jongwe turns it to deep square leg and hurries back for the second.

Washington Sundar to Luke Jongwe, Four!FOUR! Pulled away! Sundar bowls a short-pitched delivery, turning into the batter from off, Luke Jongwe reads the length early, gets in position quickly and pulls it nicely over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Washington Sundar is back on.

Abhishek Sharma to Wessly Madhevere, No run.Fuller and quicker, outside off, Wessly Madhevere goes for the reverse sweep but connects with thin air.

Abhishek Sharma to Wessly Madhevere, Six!SIX! Wessly Madhevere finally gets hold of one properly! Abhishek slants it in, full and right in the arc of the batter, Wessly Madhevere does not miss out as he reaches out in front and slog sweeps it over deep square leg for a six.

Abhishek Sharma to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Shorter and flatter, outside off, Luke Jongwe hangs back and chops it past the keeper for a single.

Abhishek Sharma to Luke Jongwe, No run.Nicely bowled! Drifting in from around the wicket, full and around off, Luke Jongwe gets on the front foot and plays for the ball coming into him. The ball pitches and spins away to beat the bat. Dhruv Jurel is quick to take the bails off and the third umpire is called into action. The replays show that Jongwe has his back leg grounded inside the crease all the way through.

Is he stumped out? Excellent piece of glove work from Dhruv Jurel yet again behind the stumps.  Luke Jongwe misses to connect the ball, gets beaten on the outside edge. Jurel collects it cleanly. He flashes off the bails in the blink of an eye. However, the side-on replay confirms that Jongwe has got his back foot grounded at the moment the stumps are broken.

Abhishek Sharma to Luke Jongwe, 2 runs.Offers flight does Abhishek and slows it up too, on off, Luke Jongwe carves it up and over cover for a couple of runs.

Abhishek Sharma to Luke Jongwe, No run.Turning away, not short enough for Luke Jongwe to cut but he goes on the back foot and gets beaten.

Riyan Parag to Wessly Madhevere, No run.So nearly trickled back onto the stumps! Dishes it out on a fullish length, just outside off, Wessly Madhevere goes for the reverse sweep again but this time it does not connect. The ball rolls off his pads and sneaks just past the leg pole.

Riyan Parag to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Shortens his length now and bowls it on off, Luke Jongwe goes on the back foot and punches it down to long off for one.

Riyan Parag to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Slips it in full and straight, at the stumps, Wessly Madhevere makes room and drills it down to long off for a single.

Riyan Parag to Wessly Madhevere, 2 runs.Just over! Floats it up, full and around the pads, Wessly Madhevere pulls out the reverse sweep but gets more of a top edge. Luckily for Madhevere, he manages to clear backward point for a couple of runs.

Riyan Parag to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Goes full and around off, Luke Jongwe wrists it down to long on and rotates the strike.

Riyan Parag to Luke Jongwe, No run.Begins on a nagging length, on off, at 92 kph, Luke Jongwe defends it back to the bowler.

Abhishek Sharma to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Pushed through, fuller and on the pads, Luke Jongwe gets his bat out in front to defend but gets an inside edge that rolls behind square on the leg side for a run.

Abhishek Sharma to Luke Jongwe, No run.Offers a hint of width on off, short in length, Luke Jongwe cuts it well but picks out the man at backward point.

Abhishek Sharma to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Slower and shorter, on middle, Wessly Madhevere drags the pull down to long on for one more run.

Abhishek Sharma to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Darts it in, at the stumps, on a nagging length, Luke Jongwe plays it with a straight bat to the right of the bowler for one.

Abhishek Sharma to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Keeps it away from the reach of the batter, short and outside off, Wessly Madhevere reaches out and cuts it to deep point for one.

Abhishek Sharma to Wessly Madhevere, Four!FOUR! A good effort by Sai Sudharsan but in vain! Abhishek drops it short and it is outside off, Wessly Madhevere rocks back and cracks the cut to the right of deep cover. Sai Sudharsan covers good ground and tumbles to his right but the ball comes off his hands and trickles into the fence.

This has been an excellent bowling effort from the Men In Blue overall. Especially as they are playing one bowler short in this clash. Change? Yup, Abhishek Sharma (1-0-19-0) is back into the attack. He replaces Ravi Bishnoi.

Washington Sundar to Luke Jongwe, No run.On a fullish length, on middle, Luke Jongwe squeezes it out to mid-wicket.

Washington Sundar to Luke Jongwe, Four!FOUR! Neatly played! Looped by Sundar, full and around leg, Luke Jongwe gets inside the line and brings out the paddle. Plays it well past short fine leg for a boundary.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Slower and the length is pulled back, on middle, Wessly Madhevere uses his feet and drives it down to long on for one.

Washington Sundar to Luke Jongwe, 1 run.Lands it full again, on middle, Luke Jongwe swats it to long on and gets to the other end.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Floats it up, full and on off, Wessly Madhevere lunges and chips it down to long off for a single.

It has just gotten from bad to worse for Zimbabwe in this chase. With 7 men down, Luke Jongwe is the next batter in.

Washington Sundar to Wellington Masakadza, OUT! run out (Dhruv Jurel).OUT! RUN OUT! Superb work by Dhruv Jurel! Sundar lands it on a nagging length, at the stumps, Wellington Masakadza looks to keep it out but gets an inside edge that rolls beside the pitch on the leg side. A yes-no situation between the two batters and they eventually decide to cross over. The keeper, Dhruv Jurel gets to the ball quickly and takes his right glove off. Picks the ball up and in one motion, hits the stumps at the bowling end to catch Masakadza short of his crease.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wessly Madhevere, 2 runs.Brilliant game awareness by the two batters! At the stumps by Bishnoi, on a length, Wessly Madhevere knocks it in front of long on and crosses over. Madhevere sees that Avesh Khan at long on is casual in his effort to get to the ball and senses the opportunity to sneak the second in. Wellington Masakadza responds in agreement. Avesh fires in a throw at the batting end and hits the stumps. It is referred upstairs but the replays show that Madhevere is in by then.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wellington Masakadza, 1 run.Slows it up but it is the googly again, on off, fuller as well, Wellington Masakadza reaches out in front and pushes it to the right of the bowler.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wellington Masakadza, No run.Googly, on a length, outside off, Wellington Masakadza pokes at the delivery and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Wellington Masakadza is the next batter in for Zimbabwe.

Ravi Bishnoi to Clive Madande, OUT! lbw b Ravi Bishnoi.OUT! TRAPPED PLUMB IN FRONT! Or is it? This looks dead straight but after a chat with his partner, Clive Madande has taken the review. Another one of those deliveries by Ravi Bishnoi that does not turn away and just keeps sliding into the batter, short and on off, Clive Madande is cramped up for room. He does go on the back foot to play it across the line but the ball skids off the deck, beats the inside edge and pings Madande on the back pad. There is nothing on UltraEdge and it is three reds on Ball Tracking. Ravi Bishnoi gets his first wicket of the game. Clive Madande doesn't trouble the scorers this time and departs on a duck.

Ravi Bishnoi to Clive Madande, No run.Goes straight on, fuller and outside off, Clive Madande walks across his stumps to play the slog sweep but misses and wears it on the pads.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Fires it in, flat and short, on middle, Wessly Madhevere goes on the back foot and punches it down to long on for a single.

Washington Sundar to Clive Madande, No run.Slightly on the pulled-back length, outside off, Clive Madande punches it off the back foot towards covers. Halfway into the run chase. Zimbabwe is under the pump here at 72/5.

Washington Sundar to Clive Madande, No run.Around the wicket, across off on a fuller length, Clive Madande goes for a drive but misses.

Clive Madande is the new man in.

Washington Sundar to Johnathan Campbell, OUT! c Ravi Bishnoi b Washington Sundar.OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Ravi Bishnoi won't drop those! Washington Sundar drops it full and around off from around the wickets, Johnathan Campbell sits for a slog sweep, gets underneath the ball but mistimes it high up in the air off the top half of the bat. Ravi Bishnoi from deep square leg runs to his right, settles his eyes under the ball and tumbles but manages to hold onto it in the end.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.A conventional off-break from Sundar now, outside leg, Wessly Madhevere shuffles to the leg side and chips it to long on for one.

Washington Sundar to Johnathan Campbell, 1 run.'Round the stumps, on a shorter length, around off, Johnathan Campbell cuts it to deep cover for one.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Tossed-up delivery on off, Wessly Madhevere hits it to long on for one.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.A wrong'un, short and outside off, it skids through as well, Johnathan Campbell goes for a cut but misses.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, 2 runs.Full and on the stumps, Campbell goes for a sweep again and gets it off the inside half of the bat towards deep square for a couple.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.Signaled as a wide initially but overturned instantly by the umpire himself. Ravi Bishnoi continues to bowl on a flatter trajectory outside leg, Johnathan Campbell employs that reverse sweep but misses. Ravi Bishnoi straightaway gets animated but the umpire reverses the decision in time.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.It's currently not working for Campbell. Bishnoi is a very difficult guy to sweep it away. Flat and on the stumps, Johnathan Campbell goes for the sweep again but inside edges onto his pad.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.In front of the pegs, a googly again, Johnathan Campbell again plays that reverse sweep but wears on the pads outside off.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.An appeal for caught behind but the umpire is unmoved. A googly on a fuller length, outside off, Johnathan Campbell reverse sweeps and misses. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, No run.Flat and full on off, Wessly Madhevere tries the reverse sweep but gets a ping on his pad instead.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 2 runs.Short and on leg, Wessly Madhevere nudges it to deep mid-wicket with soft hands and gets a double.

Washington Sundar to Johnathan Campbell, 1 run.Drifting in, on middle, full in length, Johnathan Campbell works it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Short again, turning in, Wessly Madhevere tucks it away to deep square leg for one.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, Four!FOUR! In the gap this time! Short and shade outside off, Wessly Madhevere gets the desired width, and gives himself some room, and cuts it past backward point for a boundary.

Washington Sundar to Wessly Madhevere, No run.Quick and short, outside off, Wessly Madhevere punches it off the back foot towards the cover fielder who stops it with a dive.

It will be spin from both ends now as Washington Sundar comes on.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.Well bowled! Drops a flipper on the fourth stump line and full in length, it straightens after pitching. Johnathan Campbell plays a defensive shot anticipating the ball to turn but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.Too close to the stumps on a fuller length, Johnathan Campbell again attempts to cut it away but gets beaten.

Ravi Bishnoi to Johnathan Campbell, No run.Motors a quick googly across off on a length, Johnathan Campbell goes back and gets beaten on the cut shot.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Another googly, turning in from a length, Madhevere reads it off the pitch and tucks to the off side for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wessly Madhevere, No run.Quicker and flatter outside off, chopped towards backward point by Wessly Madhevere.

Ravi Bishnoi to Wessly Madhevere, No run.An appeal for caught behind from Dhruv Jurel and Ravi Bishnoi but the umpire says 'No'. Drifts it down the leg side does Bishnoi, full in length, Wessly Madhevere misses to tuck it away and Dhruv Jurel collects it cleanly behind the stumps. Maybe, it came off Madhevere's thigh pad.

Ravi Bishnoi comes into the attack now.

Avesh Khan to Johnathan Campbell, 2 runs.Another misfield. Short and outside off, Johnathan Campbell hangs back and cuts it hard but straight to cover where Ravi Bishnoi fumbles and parries the ball to the deep. Allows two to be taken. End of the mandatory powerplay. Zimbabwe reeling at 58/4.

Avesh Khan to Wessly Madhevere, 1 run.Avesh Khan hits the deck hard again. On off, Wessly Madhevere gives the bowler the charge, but the ball gets an extra bit of bounce. Wessly Madhevere adjusts his shot but still plays it aerially. The ball, however, lands in between the cover and point gap. A single taken.

Avesh Khan to Johnathan Campbell, 1 run.Onto the pads on a hard length, Johnathan Campbell swivels quickly and pulls it along the ground towards deep square leg for a single.