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Shubman Gill Comeback in the form
Shubman Gill, India’s skipper, returned to form with a half-century as the tourists defeated Zimbabwe by 23 runs on Wednesday in the third Twenty20.
Shubman Gill hit 66 runs off 49 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, as India finished on 182-4 in 20 overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad also scored 49 off 28 balls.
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In response, Zimbabwe scored 159-6, with off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar taking 3-15 in four overs. Dion Myers led the hosts’ scoring with 65 not out from 49 balls, including seven fours and a six.
The victory gives India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. It won the second Twenty20 by 100 runs after losing the first by 13 runs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube, who were part of India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign, were added to the squad.
Choosing to bat, Shubman Gill and Jaiswal opened the innings, with Abhishek Sharma, who struck his first century in the previous game, moving down to No. 3.
Shubman Gill and Jaiswal scored 67 from 50 balls for the first wicket. Jaiswal, who did not play in the World Cup, returned to India’s playing XI with 36 from 27 balls. He scored four fours and two sixes.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza struck twice in quick succession, as India lost Jaiswal and Sharma for ten.
Gaikwad, batting at four, added 72 runs off 44 balls with Shubman Gill for the third wicket. Gill scored his highest score of the series, 50 off 36 balls, as he led the Indian innings.
He was out in the 18th over, attempting to gain ground as India reached 150. Gaikwad and Sanju Samson (12 not out) then scored 24 off 11 balls to help push the total above 180.
Zimbabwe was rocked early on in their chase of 183, with pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan sharing three wickets.
Khan struck twice in two overs, and the hosts were reduced to 19-3 after 3.1 overs. Khan finished on 2-39 from four overs.
Sundar then came through again in the middle order, removing Raza (15) and Jonathan Campbell (1), reducing Zimbabwe to 39-5 in seven overs.
It recovered well owing to a 77-run partnership off 57 balls between Myers and Clive Madande, who struck 37 off 26 balls.
Sundar struck again as Zimbabwe’s chances faded. Myers and Wellington Masakadza (18 not out) scored 43 off 21 balls to narrow the margin of defeat.
“It feels incredible to play again for my country,” Sundar said. “It was obviously a stronger batting track than the previous two games, so we executed our strategy well to limit them. Hopefully, we can complete the series on Saturday.”
The remaining two T20s will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
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