Five highlights from India’s demolition of Zimbabwe in fourth T20I

Madhevere, Marumani give Zimbabwe a rare good start

Heading into the game, Zimbabwe had not posted a 50-run opening stand in T20Is all year. Their opening stands in the first three matches of the series read 6, 4 & 9. 

But, on the day, Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani stepped it up for the hosts, posting the side’s highest opening partnership in 226 days. They added 63 runs in 8.4 overs to give the hosts a brisk start.

Sikandar Raza completes 2,000 runs to join a rare club

En route to a 28-ball 46, Sikandar Raza became the first-ever Zimbabwe cricketer to score 2,000 runs in T20Is. 

By reaching the landmark, he also became one of five cricketers in history to complete the rare double of 2,000 runs and 50 wickets in T20Is.

Raza’s heroics kept the hosts afloat for a long time.

India bounce back after indifferent start 

Zimbabwe are flying at 89/2 in 13 overs and looked good to post a 165+ total. But the hosts finished with just 152/7 thanks to some fine bowling from the young Indian bowling attack.

Ravi Bishnoi (0/22) was the pick of the bowlers but Khaleel Ahmed and debutant Tushar Deshpande closed out the innings well, conceding just 14 off the final two overs while taking three wickets.

Jaiswal scorches Zimbabwe bowlers in the powerplay

Jaiswal began the chase with a 15-run first over, and both he and India never looked back after that. The aggressive left-handed batter pretty much killed the chase in the powerplay, as India got to 61/0 at the end of the sixth over.

Jaiswal’s 47* was the fifth-highest individual score for an Indian batter inside the powerplay.

Gill & Jaiswal give a glimpse into India’s future

India got to the target of 153 without losing a solitary wicket. Gill & Jaiswal, in the process, became just the third T20I pair in history (among full members) to post two 150+ run stands.

The two youngsters have now opened seven times together and have added 429 runs at an average of 71.50 — it’s the best average for any Indian opening pair that has scored a minimum of 300 runs. 

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