India Zimbabwe T20: Kishan and Varma seal series in Harare
India beat Zimbabwe by 90 runs in Harare, with Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma powering the total that clinched the T20 series.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
India sealed the India Zimbabwe T20 series on Saturday with a 90-run win in the second match at Harare Sports Club, Reuters reported. The result gave India the three-match series after another one-sided contest in Zimbabwe’s capital.
Put in to bat, India made 219-5, led by Ishan Kishan’s 81 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 60. Zimbabwe then fell well short, bowled out for 129 in 17.5 overs.
How did India beat Zimbabwe in the second T20?
Kishan and Varma did the main damage in India’s innings, lifting the scoring rate through the middle overs. Reuters reported that they took advantage of bowling that was frequently overpitched, adding 94 runs from 44 balls for the fourth wicket.
Kishan’s 81 came from 44 deliveries before he was caught in the deep after mistiming an attempted slog at a wide ball. Varma reached 60 not out from 29 balls, giving India a total that left Zimbabwe needing a record chase.
Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett gave the home side a fast start with 32 from 19 balls. Reuters reported that he played a range of strokes before Yash Thakur dismissed him.
Thakur, playing his first T20 international, finished with 2-30. After Bennett’s wicket, Zimbabwe lost wickets steadily and did not get close to India’s target.
Abhishek Sharma produced India’s best bowling figures with his slow left-arm spin, taking 3-17. Zimbabwe were all out with more than two overs unused.
Who stood out for India?
Kishan and Varma were the central figures with the bat. Their partnership turned India’s innings into a commanding one after Zimbabwe chose to bowl first.
Thakur also made an impact on debut by removing Bennett, Zimbabwe’s main early threat. Abhishek then closed down the innings with the most productive spell of the match for India.
What does the result mean for the series?
The win gave India the series with one match still to play. In a three-match T20 series, winning the first two games is enough to secure the contest before the final fixture.
India had already won the opening match at the same ground by seven wickets, reaching the target with 40 balls to spare, according to Reuters. The last match of the series is scheduled for Sunday.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.