Harare 18 August, Harare : Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar and Prasidh Krishna took three wickets in a row in the ODI as India bowled out Zimbabwe for 189 all out in 40.3 overs in the first ODI played at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.In addition to Chahar’s 327, Patel picked 3-24 while Prasidh had 3-50 , and Mohammed Siraj scalped one wicket too. With a score of 110-8, Zimbabwe were in danger of being bowled out for a lower total when Chahar, in his first international match since February of this year, threw a stunning period of 3-27.But superb counter-attacking strikes by Brad Evans (33) and Richard Ngarava (34 not out) and their record-breaking 70-run stand at the ninth wicket, which was their best ever against India and India, helped Zimbabwe reach 200.
In choosing to bowl first, India conceded early multiple byes in the first three overs.As Chahar had his time to get settled in, Siraj was looking sharp.The two found some swings and played their deliveries to the right length, sliding in short balls from time to time.
The short ball eventually was the answer to Chahar as he was unable to squeeze Innocent Kaia for room on the pull.The resulting large edge was picked up by wicketkeeper Sanju Samson on the second attempt.
He returned in the next over to see Tadiwanashe Marumani whacking at a short ball , and caught behind to Samson.
Siraj took the third wicket of India in the power-play after he cut his length, allowing the ball to move away from Sean Williams, who poked cautiously at it, allowing an easy catch to the first slip.
Post-power-play Chahar was hit with his third loss when his final swing at a full ball caught Wesley Madhevere lbw while going for the flick.Zimbabwe was relieved after captain Regis Chakabva hit three boundaries in two innings of Chahar and Siraj.
Sikandar Raza opened the scoring with an impressive shot off Chahar and he was able to survive an appeal for lbw immediately following the ball.But his time was ended by Krishna who had beat Raza several of times prior to.With a full ball, Krishna took Raza ahead and forced him to go straight towards the slip first.Ryan Burl got going with two boundaries, but was unable to tug on Krishna’s ball, which went straight to the deep square leg.
Chakabva continued to keep the fort in place by slapping Krishna to give him a boundary, while Luke Jongwe took Zimbabwe’s total over the 100 runs in the 26th over with back-to-back boundaries.A cut through the outside off followed by a stunning drive to mid-on.
Patel put a stop to Zimbabwe’s innings by casting Chakabva with a slider , and then he trapped Jongwe in a lbw in the next over.
The fightback by Evans and Ngarava began.
The pair rotated the ball and scored occasional boundaries.Evans then hit Kuldeep Yadav into mid-wicket for the opening six of the innings.
Ngarava took advantage of Krishna’s deliveries off the outside to take them to the boundary rope , before dispatching Patel for a massive six over the wide long-on.
The crowd started to roar at the batters who were home Krishna took the stand of 70 runs to an end with an yorker that came from around the wicket, which smashed Ngarava’s off-stump.
Axar finished the match by allowing Victor Nyauchi edging to first slip to put Zimbabwe’s score at 189.
Brief score: Zimbabwe 189 all out in 40.3 overs (Regis Chakabva 35; Richard Ngarava 34; Axar Patel 3-24, Deepak Chahar 3-27) against India
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