India took an unassailable 2-0 series lead following their convincing win

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Zimbabwe only had themselves to blame as they saw India waltz to an eight-wicket win in the second ODI in Harare and secure an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Being put in to bat first, Zimbabwe got off to an awful start as they were reduced to 39/3 in the 10th over, but Vusi Sibanda and Sikandar Raza stabilised the innings with a 67-run partnership.

Just as Zimbabwe had recovered from their disastrous start, the floodgates opened when Raza was removed by Yuzvendra Chahal for 16.

Raza’s dismissal sparked a major collapse as Zimbabwe went from 106/4 to being skittled out for 126. All-rounder Sean Williams did not bat as he injured his finger prior to the start of the game.

Sibanda ended up being Zimbabwe’s top-scorer as he made 53 off 69 balls, which included six boundaries and a six.

Chahal was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Barinder Sran and Dhawal Kulkarni snapped up two wickets apiece. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel, meanwhile, chipped in with one wicket each.

Chasing 127 to win, India got off to a fantastic start as openers Lokesh Rahul and Karun Nair amassed a 58-run partnership before Rahul was clean bowled by Chamu Chibhabha for 33.

Nair and Ambati Rayudu kept the runs flowing with a 67-run stand before Nair was trapped lbw off the bowling of Raza for 39.

Rayudu and Manish Pandey mopped up the remaining runs to lead India to victory with 139 balls to spare.

Rayudu finished on 41 off 44 balls, which included seven boundaries, while Pandey struck a boundary on the only delivery he faced.

Chibhabha and Raza claimed one wicket each.

Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer was less than impressed with his side’s performance, and said: “Losing the toss again may have played a part but our batters didn’t look the part. The wicket was still doing a little bit and we were looking to get around 240 to get them under pressure. Injuries are always disappointing but I think we had enough batters to post a good score. We know we have four games to go and hopefully come hard at them in the T20s.”

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was thrilled to have won the series, and said: “It’s always good to take catches and inside edges are always good to take. It was a different performance from the first game, slightly different pitch. Some of the shots played in the first 10 overs showed it was coming on to the bat nicely. Our bowlers did a great job to restrict them, I felt they would cross 200 and our spinners got us important breakthroughs.

“Most important thing is to win games and our batting when it comes to professionalism is right up there, even in the first game. We’ll sit and discuss changes for the next game with Sanjay Bangar. There’s only so much players can do in only one game. We’ll see who can fit in the T20 squad and maybe we’ll rest one of the bowlers.”

Chahal was named Man of the Match, and said: “I enjoyed bowling, the wicket was a bit slow. Day before the batsmen were not going after me and were a bit defensive, today they were attacking me so I got wickets. I was looking to bowl a stump-to-stump line and Mahi bhai also asked me to bowl slow through the air.”