- IND vs ZIM: India defeated Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20 match. Team India has taken a 2-1 lead in the series. Dion Myers scored the first fifty of his career.
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IND vs ZIM:
India defeated Zimbabwe by a huge margin of 23 runs in the third T20 match. With this, the Indian team has taken a 2-1 lead in the 5-match series. Captain Shubhman Gill played a half-century of 66 runs for the Indian team, which came to bat first. On the other hand, Rituraj Gaikwad missed out on hitting a fifty, he played an innings of 49 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal also helped Team India reach a huge score of 182 runs by scoring 36 runs. Zimbabwe, which came to chase the target, could not recover after a bad start this time too.
Host Zimbabwe had a huge target of 183 runs, but the team’s start was so bad that half the team had returned to the pavilion by the score of 39 runs. Wesley Madhevere, who was in good form till now, got out after scoring just 1 run this time. Captain Sikandar Raza once again failed to play a big innings. He got a good start but could not play an innings that could change the course of the match. Raza got out after scoring 15 runs in 16 balls.
The bravery of Myers and Madande
Zimbabwe had lost 5 wickets for 39 runs at one point, but from here Clive Madande and Dion Myers together took the responsibility on their shoulders. Both of them especially targeted Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dubey. Together, these two brought the team’s score from 5 wickets for 39 runs in 7 overs to 110 runs for the same number of wickets in 15 overs. But after this, Zim again started faltering in the death overs. Madande scored 37 runs in 26 balls and Myers scored the first fifty of his T20 career. Myers returned unbeaten after scoring 65 runs in 49 balls, but could not ensure the team’s victory.
Khalil Ahmed turned the match around
Zimbabwe had to score 73 runs in the last 5 overs to win. The way Myers and Madande were batting, this target could have been achieved easily. But Khalil Ahmed gave only 2 runs in the 16th over, which put pressure on the Zimbabwe batsmen. The remaining task was completed by Avesh Khan in the 18th over, in which only 6 runs were scored, which ensured India’s victory. Washington Sundar took the most wickets for the Indian team, who took 3 wickets in his 4 over spell. Avesh Khan took 2 and Khalil Ahmed also took one wicket.
India defeat Zimbabwe by 23 Runs in third T20I
— AHMED SAYS (@AhmedGT_) July 10, 2024
– India is leading the series with 2-1 under the leadership of Captain Shubman Gill 🔥#ShubmanGill #ZIMvsIND pic.twitter.com/1dIcy1XwNZ
From Despair to Hope: The Brief Resurgence of Zimbabwe thanks to Khalil Ahmed
The 2nd T20I between India and Zimbabwe was cruising towards an easy Indian victory. Openers Sharma and Gaikwad had piled on the runs, leaving Zimbabwe with a daunting chase. But then, amidst the gloom, emerged a ray of hope – the bowling of Khalil Ahmed.
Early Struggles:
Zimbabwe’s bowling attack had been under the pump throughout the Indian innings. Pacers lacked control, and spinners failed to find their rhythm. The required run rate kept climbing, and defeat seemed imminent.
Khalil Ahmed’s Intervention:
With his back to the wall, Zimbabwe captain turned to the young leg-spinner, Khalil Ahmed. Ahmed, known for his deceptive googly and sharp turn, didn’t disappoint.
A Wicket a Ball:
Ahmed started his spell with a bang. His very first delivery deceived the well-set Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was clean bowled. The crowd erupted, sensing a shift in momentum. Ahmed followed it up with another beauty, trapping the in-form Sanju Samson LBW.
From 3 Down to a Glimmer of Hope:
Suddenly, India found themselves 3 wickets down, the free flow of runs halted. The required run rate became even steeper, but more importantly, a flicker of belief ignited in the Zimbabwean camp. Ahmed continued his wicket-taking spree, dismissing the dangerous Shivam Dube with a classical leg-break.
The Dream Faltered:
However, Ahmed’s heroics were short-lived. The experienced Indian middle order, led by the ever-reliable Rahul Tripathi, steadied the ship. They rotated the strike, picking boundaries at crucial junctures, and ensured India didn’t lose the momentum completely.
A Moral Victory for Zimbabwe?
Despite his best efforts, Ahmed’s four wickets couldn’t prevent an Indian victory. However, his spell instilled hope and belief in the Zimbabwean team. They showed they could compete against a strong Indian batting line-up, and with a bit more support from the other bowlers, they could challenge India in the upcoming matches.
Can they carry the momentum forward? The answer will unfold in the thrilling 3rd T20I currently