Taylor and Erwin set up a victory for the hosts

It was a good match for all the spectators who switched on their TV sets to view a clash between under –string Team India and ambitious Team Zimbabwe. At the end of the day, it was the red that tasted the success. Thanks mainly to Brendon Taylor and debutant Craig Erwin who set the match for Zimbabwians by successfully chasing the target of 285 with 10 balls to spare and by having 6 wickets in hand.

A Charged Rohit

Earlier Indian Skipper Raina won the toss and elected to bat on a strip that was flat. Reports suggested that it would offer turn to spinners. Indian openers Murali Vijay and Dinesh Kartik shared a 50 run stand which includes 26 extras,thanks mainly to Chigumbura. Murali Vijay was unfortunately run out while attempting a 2^nd run which later proved t obe too risky. Incame Virat Kohli too was ran out by Chigumbura for a duck without even facing a ball. Soon kartik too was sent back to hut. Then Raina and Rohit Sharma played sensibly to build a partenership. However the run rate was moving slowly. Spinners slowed down the runrate well. In a period , Indian innings was almost without a boundary for 99 balls until Raina slogged over deep midwicket for 4 runs. Raina too departed for 36 runs. Rohit, whose strike rate was below par initially, later went to pace up his innings well. Once he scored his 50, he started to use his feet well and started finding gaps well and more frequently. He, eventually went on to make his maiden century, which comprises of 3 sixes, With a elegant cover drive. Jadeja on the other hand, who had poor tournament in West Indies, played well with Rohit and went on to score run-a-ball 61. Their partnership proved vital . With cameo from Yusuf Pathan, who scored 11 runs off 5 balls with a 6 and a 4, India set a mighty target of 285 for Zimbabwe. For Zimbabwe Mpofu bagged two scalps.

Depleted Pace Attack

Zimbabwe openers Brendon Taylor and Masakadza gave tuff time for the 3 debutants Indian pace bowlers. They kept well with run rate and shared a opening partnership of 88. Taylor continued and went on to make his fifty and shared a 61 run partnership with Lamb. When Lamb was dismissed, debutant Erwin stepped into the field. He showed great patience and potential and rotated the strike between the wickets well. Meanwhile Taylor was dismissed for well made 81 by Vinay Kumar, thereby becoming his first ODI scalp. Then incame Charles Coventry. He was brutal and cleared the fence often and with ease. Soon Coventry was dismissed by a beauty of Vinay Kumar. He went for a cameo of 32. Skipper Chigumbura then took the responsibility to take his team home. Erwin, meanwhile, made his maiden fifty . With run-a-ball required in last 30 balls and batting powerplay under operation in the same period, it was just like a cake walk for Chigumbura and Erwin. They chased down the target with 10 balls to spare and by keeping 6 wickets in hand.

India takes on Srilanka on Sunday. Hope they win that encounter

Craziest Indian Cricket fan,

Ragul