Abhishek Sharma got a great half century while the others like Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma played their part as India managed to post a massive 256/4 in 20 overs. India were awesome with the bat and Zimbabwe bowlers were taken to the cleaners. They picked up 4 wickets but most of the bowlers went for plenty and another mountain to climb for the Chevrons now.
India gets off to a flier despite losing Sanju Samson in powerplay.Â
Put into bat first, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma came out to open the batting for India while Richard Ngarava had ball in hand for Zimbabwe. Sanju made his intentions clear as he got off the mark with the maximum flat hit down the ground for the maximum. Ngarava conceded 4 leg byes as extras to the batting side. Blessing Muzarabani came into the attack from the other end.
Sanju took on Blessing by backing away and smashing it over long-on for the maximum. Tinotenda Maposa came into the attack next as Abhishek lofted it over extra cover for a boundary and the bowler overstepped as well. Maposa bowled two wides as Abhishek launched the ball straight down the ground over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Samson then got the width and threw his hands at it and played the late cut past short third and backward point for a boundary.
Abhishek took on Maposa yet again and swung across the line to hit it over long-on for the maximum. Blessing Muzarabani continued and he got rid of Samson for 24 off 15 balls with one four and two sixes to his name as he was holed out in the midwicket region where he miscued and Ryan Burl took the catch. Ishan Kishan came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Brad Evans came into the attack next. Abhishek went bang and launched it high and handsome over midwicket for the maximum. Abhishek went for the hoick across the line and got an inside edge past off-stump for a boundary.
Ngarava returned to bowl the last over of powerplay. Ishan got a full toss down the leg side and Ishan helped it on its way over short fine leg for a boundary. Ishan then swivelled across and rolled his wrists past short fine leg for another boundary. Abhishek went big again as he slapped it away over the non-striker’s head for the maximum to end the powerplay. India reached 80/1 in 6 overs of powerplay with Abhishek unbeaten on 33 off 13 balls and Ishan unbeaten on 15 off 9 balls. We also paused for Drinks Break as well.
India keep the momentum going in middle phase despite losing 3 wickets in that period.Â
Sikandar Raza came into the attack after the powerplay and break and bowled a quiet over. Brian Bennett came into the attack from the other end. He too bowled a good over. Raza continued as Ishan charged down the track and slogs across the line and lost bottom hand of the bat but still middle it to get it to the midwicket region. The 50-run stand came up between Abhishek and Ishan Kishan. Bennett continued as Ishan got a lifeline when batting on 26 as Maposa dropped the catch in the deep diving forward. The 100 came up for India in 9.1 overs.
Abhishek added salt to the wounds as he charged down the track and went to the pitch of the ball and launched it over long-on for the maximum. India reached 109/1 in 10 overs at the halfway stage of the contest. Raza continued as Abhishek reached his fifty in just 26 balls and a much-needed fifty from the southpaw. Ishan took on Raza as he pumped it over the bowler’s head for a boundary and then lofted it high and handsome straight down the ground for the maximum.
Raza hit back as he got rid of Ishan for 38 off 24 balls with 4 fours and one six to his name as he slashed it hard and hit it straight to short third man who took the catch. Captain Suryakumar Yadav came out to bat next as he got off the mark by getting down on one knee and nailed the sweep behind square for a boundary. Brad Evans came back into the attack as Muzarabani dropped the catch at deep square leg as Surya got a boundary with the ball bursting through his hands.
Maposa came back into the attack as Surya took him on again as he cut it away past backward point for a boundary and then launched the ball high down the ground over long-off for the maximum. Abhishek hammered the ball down the ground past long-off for a boundary. The 150 came up for India in 12.4 overs. Maposa finally had something to cheer about as he removed Abhishek for a well-played 55 off 30 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes to his name as the mistimed shot was hit at long-on who took the catch as Raza made no mistake. Hardik Pandya came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Ryan Burl came into the attack to bowl the 14th over. Hardik took him on and clubbed it over the bowler’s head for the maximum. Raza did really well in the deep to pull the back in play and restricted it to a single. Drinks was taken with India at 161/3 in 14 overs.
Ngarava came back into the attack post the break. Surya took on the bowling and whacked it away over deep forward square leg for the maximum. Ngarava hit back and got rid of Suryakumar Yadav for 33 off 13 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes to his name as Musekiwa took the catch as Ngarava got a wicket to his name. Tilak Varma came out to bat next and got off the mark with a boundary as he got top of the bounce and cut it away over backward point for a boundary. India reached 176/4 in 15 overs with Tilak unbeaten on 4 off 1 ball. Hardik was unbeaten on 12 off 8 balls.
Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma power India to 256/4 in 20 overs.Â
Blessing Muzarabani came back into the attack as Tilak got down on one knee and scooped it over the keeper’s head for a boundary. Brad Evans came back for another over as Hardik got a streaky boundary and got a thick inside edge past short fine leg for a boundary. Tilak then launched Evans by going over deep extra covers for the maximum as the 200 came up in 16.4 overs.
Blessing Muzarabani came back into the attack as Hardik clubbed it over deep midwicket for the maximum. Tilak was on song as he opened the bat face and sliced it away over the top of backward point for a boundary. Tilak then hung back and muscled the ball over long-on for the maximum. Ngarava came into the attack for the 19th over as Pandya hammered it away between deep midwicket and long-on for a boundary. The 50-run stand came up between the two players. Tilak went big and slammed the slower ball over long-on for the maximum.
Tilak went big and smoked it over deep midwicket for the maximum. Brad Evans came to bowl the last over of the innings. Hardik took matter into his own hands as he smoked Evans over bowler’s head for the maximum as the 250 came up for India in 19.5 overs. Hardik took on Evans and loft it away over backward square leg for the maximum. Hardik reached his fifty in 23 balls as India finished with a powerful 256/4 in 20 overs.
Hardik remained unbeaten on 50 off 23 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes and Tilak was unbeaten on 44 off 16 balls with 3 fours and 4 sixes to his name. 12 extras given by the fielding side.
A tough night for Zimbabwe bowlers. Blessing Muzarabani finished with 1/43 in 4 overs. Tinotenda Maposa finished with 1/40 in 2 overs. Richard Ngarava finished with 1/62 in 4 overs. Sikandar Raza finished with 1/29 in 3 overs. Brad Evans finished with 0/52 in 4 overs. Brian Bennett finished with 0/16 in 2 overs. Ryan Burl finished with 0/10 in 1 over. Zimbabwe’s target will be 257 to win off 20 overs.
Who’s Winning, India or Zimbabwe?Â
India have got a humongous score on the board as they have finished with 256/4 in 20 overs. Zimbabwe will have to bat out of their skins to win this match from here. India on track to win this unless they bowl horribly. Can the Chevrons make a match out of this contest? Let’s wait and watch.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: India Gets Off To A Flier.