In the 42nd match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, India defeated Zimbabwe by 71 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
After winning the toss, Rohit Sharma elected to bat first. The innings started roughly for the Men in Blue as both the openers struggled to play any deliveries. Eventually, Sharma (15) lost his wicket cheaply in the fourth over leaving the rest of the batters thinking about the swing bowling. KL Rahul (51) got the start which Indian fans were looking for. Along with him, in-form Virat Kohli (26) also helped India get through the initial stage. While doing so, both the batters scored 60 runs together for the second wicket partnership. Towards the end, Suryakumar Yadav (61*) played a blinder knock to take India to a massive score of 186/5. India’s very own Mr.360 smashed an unbeaten half-century which included six fours and four sixes, that too at the strike rate of 244.
In reply, Zimbabwe straightaway began to lose a few wickets upfront in the second innings. Captain Craig Ervin (13) looked good but lost his wicket cheaply. In the middle overs, it was Sikandar Raza (34) and Ryan Burl (35) who were hitting the ball well all around the park. The duo scored 60 runs together for the sixth wicket partnership. During the partnership, it looked like it was drizzling boundaries but once team India got Burl’s wicket, it began to rain wickets at the MCG. Zimbabwe kept on losing wickets and unfortunately got bundled for just 117 runs in 17.2 overs.
Although Ravichandran Ashwin plucked three wickets tonight, it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh‘s show at the start of the second innings. Both the bowlers managed only to get one wicket each but they outclassed Zimbabwean batters. Mohammad Shami and Hardik Pandya also claimed two wickets each and along with them, Axar Patel also picked one.
For Zimbabwe, Sean Williams plucked two wickets in the first innings. Along with him, one wicket each was also taken by Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza.
Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged Man of the Match for his electrifying batting performance. Following this victory, India have topped group 2 and will meet England in the Semi-final round.
Scorecard:
India: 186/5, Overs 20, Suryakumar Yadav 61*, Sean Williams 2/9
Zimbabwe: 115/10, Overs 17.2, Ryan Burl 35, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/2