IND VS ZIM T20I

Right then, that is it from this game where India goes ahead in the series and will look to wrap things up in the next one while Zimbabwe will want to level it. The penultimate T20I of this series will be played on 13th July, Saturday. It will begin at 4.30 pm IST (11 am GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Shubman Gill, the victorious skipper of India says that it feels good to take the lead in the series. Adds that it was a crucial game for them and at one point, they were looking likely to get over 200. Tells that it was not easy to hit the length balls and that is the chat he and Ruturaj Gaikwad had in the middle. Ends by saying that they gave that message to the bowlers who bowled accordingly and got the job done.

Washington Sundar is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for another brilliant outing with the ball. Sundar says that it feels good to play for the country. Adds that it was a better wicket than the previous two games. Adds there was something in the surface for the bowlers. Says the way the Zimbabwe batters played toward the backend, it did put a bit of pressure on them. Appreciates Myers and Madande but also says they are happy to get over the line. Ends up by saying that he is hopeful to finish the series on a positive note.

Sikandar Raza, the captain of Zimbabwe says that the fielding cost them in this game and they conceded 20 odd runs extra. Adds that they still have their problems at the top but they back their players. Tells that they have tried 15 different opening pairs and there is a lot of cricket going around in the country, but the players need to back themselves as well. Mentions that he is an option to open, but they do not want to create new problems while solving another. Further adds that they will try to take the positives and come back strong in the next couple of games. Ends by saying that Blessing Muzarabani has been excellent for them and hopes that he continues in that fashion.

Presentation Time...

Avesh Khan is up for a quick chat. He says that he is delighted with his performance but says he always thinks of ways to improve. Says that he tells the skipper to not prefer any bowling slot for him and that he is always ready to bowl in any phase of the game. Further adds that he is always up for giving his best and picking quick wickets. Appreciates Shubman Gill and says that he's a bowler's captain. Says he gives them a lot of freedom and space. On being asked about Ravi Bishnoi, he appreciates that Bishnoi is not only a good bowler but an excellent fielder and he has taken a lot of blinders in the Indian T20 League too.

Earlier in the game, India posted a big total on a challenging surface courtesy of a brilliant fifty from skipper Shubman Gill and a couple of fiery knocks from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Zimbabwe's bowling wasn't that great and sloppy fielding made things even worse for them. Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza picked up a couple of wickets each and they were the only spark in an otherwise lackluster bowling effort. While chasing, the host got off to the worst possible start, but the stand between Clive Madande and Dion Myers kept them in the game for a long time, but the target proved to be a bit too steep for them chase as they fell short by 23 runs.

India, on the other hand, will be pleased with their bowling effort. Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed were brilliant with the new ball and picked up three quick wickets with one of them falling to a stunning catch from Ravi Bishnoi at point. However, it was Washington Sundar's spell that took the game away from the hosts in the middle overs. Firstly he got the big fish, Sikandar Raza, and then added a couple of more to his tally. As they played one bowler short, the four overs between Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma cost them 50 runs and put them under a bit of pressure. However, it was that two-run over from Khaleel that got them well ahead in the game. Avesh and Bishnoi went for a few at the death, but they had enough runs in their bank and got over the line.

After a good first over, it went downhill for Zimbabwe as they lost three wickets in quick succession in the Powerplay with not much on the board. Sikandar Raza came in and played a few lusty blows but perished soon after and Johnathan Campbell also failed to make much impact leaving them in a huge spot of bother. However, the duo of Dion Myers and Clive Madande rode that storm well and steadied the ship nicely with a mixture of aggression and smart cricket. They were able to target the part-timers and went into the slog overs well set. However, lack of experience showed when they were just not able to handle the pressure and failed to get the boundaries ultimately succumbing to the situation. The duo added 77 runs together but just did not have enough steam left in them in the end. However, Myers notched up his maiden T20I fifty and gave a little bit of a scare to the visitors but ended up on the losing side.

INDIA GO 2-1 UP IN THE SERIES! The margin of victory does not tell the full story here as Zimbabwe only have themselves to blame here. No doubt the Men in Blue were the better team, but the hosts will be ruing their dropped chances and misfields, otherwise, the story could have been a lot different as Dion Myers played a splendid knock towards the end that got them close.

A huge appeal for LBW but it is clearly going way down the leg side. As expected, 'No' says the umpire. However, just for the formalities' sake, Avesh sends it upstairs. Avesh spears in a yorker right on the base of the front boot. Myers tries to flick it away but misses. The ball pings on his boot and deflects before running down to deep fine. UltraEdge shows nothing but the Ball Tracking confirms that the ball and sliding down the leg side big time. NOT OUT. INDIA WIN BY 23 RUNS AND TAKE THE LEAD BY 2-1 IN THE SERIES.

FOUR! Dion Myers has played some really good strokes here! Surely one of the positives Zimbabwe will take it from this fixture. Avesh struggles with the line and offers width outside off on a length, Dion Myers climbs on the bounce and gets it on the up, and between short third and backward point for a boundary.

FOUR! Just over short third and four more! Back of a length and outside off, Dion Myers hops on the bounce and slices it over the short third fielder for a boundary. Fortuitous though!

Over the wicket, a length ball on the leg stump. Masakadza flat bats it to mid-off for a quick single.

SIX! THAT HAS BEEN PUNISHED! Avesh bangs it hard, on the middle, Wellington Masakadza gets the desired length to pull it away. He sets a good base for himself by transferring the weight on the back foot and deposits into the stands behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

Full and at the stumps, Wellington Masakadza makes some room and heaves it to deep mid-wicket. A fumble there in the deep that allows them to cross for the double.

Fuller in length and outside off, Dion Myers sits and slogs it through mid-wicket. Rinku Singh does the hard yards from deep square leg and sprints to his left and stops the ball with one hand. Excellent effort in the field. Keeps it to just a couple of runs.