 "IND vs PAK: ‘For Pakistan, with their new faces, the pressure is going to be different, India will dominate them’")
 "Why rumours of Sachin Tendulkar becoming next BCCI president are unfounded")
Harare: India will hope to end the Zimbabwe tour on a high with a win in the second Twenty20 International at the Harare Sports Club. A second string India, captained by young batsman Ajinkya Rahane, clinched the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series 3-0. The visitors were a superior side in the first T20I too, winning the match by 54 runs. [caption id=“attachment_2350462” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File picture of India Cricketers. AFP[/caption] The visitors will have very little homework to do after putting up an impressive show both with the bat and ball so far. But the hosts will look to win a match and redeem some of their bruised pride. India fielded five debutants Axar Patel, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadav, Sandip Sharma and Stuart Binny for the T20 match on Friday. Patel made his T20 debut memorable, winning the man of the match award after picking up three wickets giving away just 17 runs. He was given ample support by veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2/29) after experienced batsman-wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa played a responsible 35-ball 39-run knock to guide India to 178/5. Set a target of 179, Zimbabwe could muster only 124/7, undone by the slow bowling pair of Patel and Harbhajan. India will aim to capitalise on their batting strength once again, hoping their batsmen would again set up the victory with another strong total. Rahane and Vijay scored at a fast clip and the onus will be on them once again to provide India a platform. Uthappa will also like to make a big score, after his crucial knock in the first T20. Zimbabwe need quality performances from batsmen Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibhabha and Vusimuzi Sibanda and bowlers like Prosper Utseya and Tinashe Panyangara. Skipper Elton Chigumbura and Sean Williams will share the dual responsibility of contributing with both bat and ball. The squads: India: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Robin Uthappa, Murali Vijay, Stuart Binny, Manoj Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Sandeep Sharma, Sanju Samson and Mohit Sharma. Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Regis Chakabva, Chamu Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe vs India 2nd T20I as it happened: Chibhabha, Cremer star as Zimbabwe beat India by 10 runs
Live scores and updates of 2nd T20I between Zimbabwe and India in Harare.
)
That’s it! Zimbabwe level the series as they beat India by 10 runs in 2nd T20I
Bhuvneshwar takes three runs, the third one was a risky one and Coventry fails to collect the ball and misses a run out. They run a bye off the next ball as Coventry fumbles. They again try to run for another bye but Coventry does well to pass on the ball to the bowler who knocks down the stumps to run out Bhuvneshwar. Mpofu holds his nerves to concede just 4 runs off the next three balls to win it for Zimbabwe.
After 19 overs, India 127/7 (Bhuvneshwar 6, Mohit 0)
Brilliant over from Muzarabani, just 6 runs and a wicket off it. India need 19 from 6.
OUT! Akshar departs now. AR Patel c Williams b Muzarabani 13 (15b 1×4 0x6)
Low full toss outside off, Akshar heaves it straight to deep mid-wicket fielder. India need 22 off 8 now.
Mohit Sharma is the last man in.
After 18 overs, India 121/7 (Akshar 13, Bhuvneshwar 0)
A successful over for Zimbabwe. But Akshar got a boundary to keep India in hunt. 7 runs and the wicket of Samson off it. India need 25 from 12.
OUT! Mpofu gets the big one! SV Samson c Waller b Mpofu 19 (24b 1×4 0x6)
It’s full outside off, Samson stays in his crease and looks to go downtown but he doesn’t connect it well and helps it straight into the hands of Waller.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar strides out to the middle.
After 17 overs, India 114/6 (Samson 19, Akshar 6)
A very good over from Raza and he might have had a wicket too in that over but for the drop from Cremer. After four runs from first five balls, Akshar drills one uppishly to extra cover but Cremer puts down a tough chance. 6 runs off the over. 32 needed off 18 now.
After 16 overs, India 109/6 (Samson 18, Akshar 2)
Cremer finishes a brilliant spell. 4-0-18-3. Just three runs and the wicket of Binny in that over. 37 needed off 24 now.
OUT! Brilliant catch from Chibhabha. Binny departs! STR Binny c Chibhabha b Cremer 24 (23b 2×4 0x6)
Cremer strikes again. It’s tossed up outside off, Binny charges down and looks to go downtown but doesn’t connect it well, Chibhabha charges in from long on, dives and pouches it inches above the ground.
Akshar Patel is the new batsman.
After 15 overs, India 105/5 (Binny 24, Samson 16)
A good first over from Raza, just four singles off it. The pair scampered through a risky single off the last ball but the fielder at short third man missed his direct hit. Would have been close had that hit. 41 needed off 30 now.
After 14 overs, India 101/5 (Binny 22, Samson 14)
Samson starts off the over in lucky fashion. He looks to turn one to the leg side but gets a leading edge wide of short third man for a streaky boundary. He then steers one off the middle to the same region for a single. Some sensible batting sees them get four more singles off the next four balls. 9 runs off the over. The 100 is up too. 45 needed off 36 balls now.
After 13 overs, India 92/5 (Binny 20, Samson 7)
A tight over from Utseya, just two singles and a wide. The batsmen struggled to fine gaps in that over.
After 12 overs, India 89/5 (Binny 19, Samson 6)
Binny releases some pressure. Good cricket from both the batsmen. Binny charges down and hammers the first one over extra cover for a boundary and then cuts one past backward point for another one. Three more singles make it 11 runs from the over.
After 11 overs, India 78/5 (Binny 9, Samson 5)
Good sensible stuff from Samson and Binny. Five singles and a couple off it. Binny looked a bit impatient in that over. But the good thing is that the scoreboard was kept ticking.
After 10 overs, India 71/5 (Binny 6, Samson 1)
A tight over from Williams. Just two runs off it. This is the time for Zimbabwe to apply a stranglehold on India.
After 9 overs, India 69/5 (Binny 5, Samson 0)
A successful over for Zimbabwe. The batsmen were playing sensibly until they decided to take the risky second off the last ball which cost the wicket of Jadhav. 6 runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Brilliant piece of fielding from Taurai Muzarabani. KM Jadhav run out 5 (6b 0x4 0x6)
Binny clips it through mid-wicket and scampers through for a single. Jadhav doesn’t start off well and then they look fro a second, Muzarabani runs in from deep mid-wicket and scores a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Jadhavis caught short as the replays show. Superb fielding. Careless running.
Sanju Samson – the debutant strides out to the middle.
After 8 overs, India 63/4 (Jadhav 3, Binny 1)
A very good over for Zimbabwe. Williams concedes just 5 runs and gets the important wicket of Uthappa too.
OUT! Williams gets the big one! RV Uthappa c & b Williams 42 (25b 9×4 0x6)
Full on off, Uthappa comes forward and drives it firmly straight back, Williams shows good reflexes and pouches a brilliant catch. A big, big wicket for Zimbabwe at crucial juncture.
Stuart Binny is the new batsman.
After 7 overs, India 58/3 (Uthappa 40, Jadhav 1)
A brilliant first over from Cremer. Just one run and two wickets off it.
OUT! Cremer gets another one in the over. MK Pandey lbw b Cremer 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
It’s a length delivery on the leg stump, zipping through. Manish Pandey goes back and looks to flick but is beaten by the pace. He misses and gets hit on the pads. The umpire lifts the finger on the appeal. But it looked like it might have missed leg.
Kedar Jadhav is the new batsman.
OUT! Cremer strikes first ball! M Vijay b Cremer 13 (11b 0x4 1×6)
It’s a touch short on middle and off, it spins away a tad. Vijay rocks back for a pull but misses it completely. The ball knocks back the off stump. A wicket at a crucial juncture for Zimbabwe.
Manish Pandey is the new batsman.
After 6 overs, India 57/1 (Vijay 13, Uthappa 40)
This is a good start for India despite the early lossof Rahane. Both the batsmen looking to attack now, the 50-run stand also comes up. Vijay gets down and slog sweeps it over deep square leg for a six and then Uthappa reverse sweeps it wide of backward point fielder for a boundary. 13 runs off the over.
After 5 overs, India 35/1 (Vijay 5, Uthappa 35)
Not a good start from Chibhabha. He brings one back sharply off the first ball, Vijay misses it and there is an appeal for an LBW but the umpire says no. Looked like sliding down the leg side. Uthappa then banishes a short ball through mid-wicket for a boundary before flicking one over square leg for consecutive fours. 9 runs off the over.
After 4 overs, India 35/1 (Vijay 4, Uthappa 27)
Good contest in that over. Mpofu beats Uthappa with an inswinger that keeps a bit low but then drops it short next ball, Uthappa pulls it off the front foot over mid-wicket for a boundary. He then trickles one to fine leg for the second boundary off the over. He then pulls another one through mid-wicket for the third boundary off the over. 12 runs off the over. Uthappa has racedon to 27 off 18 with six fours.