Elton Chigumbura blasted a quickfire half-century as Zimbabwe shocked favourites India by two runs in a thrilling finish, in the first T20 International match in Harare, on Saturday.
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Chigumbura went after the Indian bowlers in the final few overs, smashing 54 from 26 balls with the help of seven sixes and a four, to power the hosts to a healthy 171. In reply, India were restricted to 168 for six with seamer Neville Madziva bowling a brilliant final over to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After a 3-0 cakewalk in the preceding ODI series, India were brought down to earth by this embarrassing defeat in which captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's reputation as a finisher again took a beating.
Needing only eight off the final over, Dhoni who couldn't connect a single big shot during his sedate 19 off 17 balls. Surprisingly, Dhoni even took single in the final over to expose debutant Himachal Pradesh all-rounder Rishi Dhawan (1), who had quite a few swings but failed to make connection.
Madziva mixed it up nicely as the few hundreds of Zimbabwean supporters were ecstatic in joy to see their team finally get the better of the Indians.
Indian Premier League regulars like Manish Pandey (48) and Axar Patel (18) did their bit to set it up but when it mattered the most, the little known Zimbabwean boys, held their nerves in the closing stages.
With 79 required from the last seven overs, Pandey decided to take on rival captain Graeme Cremer, hitting him for two consecutive sixes as 16 runs came off the 14th over in company of skipper Dhoni. The presence of Dhoni also ensured that singles were converted into doubles.
The skipper got his first boundary in the next over with a nice little bisected between point and gully that went for a boundary off pacer Taurai Muzarabani. The 15th over yielded 10 runs.
With Pandey getting a boundary off Neville Madziva's next over that produced 12 runs -- India's victory bid was back on track with 38 runs coming off three overs.
Just when it looked that Pandey would take India home, he mistimed a lofted shot off Muzarabani's bowling to be dismissed for 48 off 35 balls having hit a four and three sixes.
Axar Patel hit pacer Donald Tiripano for two sixes in the 19th over to bring the equation down to eight needed from the final over, which the Indians failed to get. India will play second match at the same venue on Monday.
At the start of the chase, hero of India's ODI series win, KL Rahul (0) was bowled off an inside edge off the first ball of the innings, trying to guide Donald Tiripano delivery to thirdman.
Mandeep Singh, who made 31 from 27 balls in his first match at the international level, added 44 runs for the second wicket with Ambati Rayudu (19) to rally India after an early wicket.
Both hit a few crisp boundaries but the acceleration in scoring rate wasn't as much as they would have expected.
Rayudu was bowled trying by Chamu Chibhabha before Mandeep was caught at long-off with Tinotenda Mutombodzi taking a superb a diving catch at long-off region off Chibhabha.
Pandey launched leg-spinner Graeme Cremer to hit him straight over sight-screen while Jadhav hit Sikander Raza over long-on for a couple of sixes to keep the scoreboard moving in the middle overs.
Just when it looked that they were having some kind of partnership, having added 30 runs, Jadhav played an indiscreet shot off seamer Muzarbani to lose his off-stump in the process.
India were 90 for four when Dhoni came into bat. But the skipper, who looked a shadow of his former self could not take the team home.
The worst part was that it was the first time that the batting was put to test and the IPL regulars wilted under pressure.
Interestingly, India have now lost the last two T20 Internationals they have played against Zimbabwe. It will be after a long time that India will be playing to save a series against Zimbabwe.
Earlier, India's rookie bowlers were taken to cleaners by the seasoned Elton Chigumbura, who smashed an unbeaten 55 to help Zimbabwe reach a competitive 170 for six in 20 overs.
The trio of T20 debutants Rishi Dhawan (1/42 in 4 overs), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/38 in 4 overs) and Jaydev Unadkat (0/43 in 4 overs) gave away a combined of 123 runs in 12 overs.
Chigumbura hit seven lusty sixes along with a boundary to give his team a healthy total.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (1/18 in 4 overs) and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah (2/24) put the brakes on the host nation but runs leaked from the other end.
Bumrah once again proved to be the best performer as he bowled maximum number of dot balls -- 13.
Hamilton Masakadza (25 from 15 balls), smashed three sixes -- one off seamer Dhawan and two off medium fast bowler Unadkat to get the team off the blocks quickly.
Opener Masakadza along with Chamu Chibhabha (2) added 33 runs for the opening stand in only 4.2 overs before Bumrah dismissed the former, who tried to play a lap-scoop off a slower delivery only to be caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.
Richmond Mutumbami (0 retired hurt) got hit while playing the third delivery off Unadkat which kicked off from length.
Himachal Pradesh's Rishi Dhawan, who got a second chance after a disastrous tour of Australia, was hit for six boundaries and a six in his four overs. But his consolation was Chibhabha's wicket.
Sikander Raza (20) and Malcolm Waller (30) added 47 runs for the third wicket but Chahal bowled a googly to breach through Waller's defence before the former was run out.
India, who won the toss and elected to bowl, made quite a few changes to their team from the ODI series. The visitors handed debuts to Rishi Dhawan, Mandeep Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, KL Rahul and Yuzvendra Chahal.
However, Chigumbura changed the script completely as he blew away the rookie Indian bowlers carting the pacers and spinners alike in the big arc between cover and mid-wicket.
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