India thrash Zimbabwe, stay alive in T20 World Cup

Chennai: It was an all-out assault at Chepauk as India racked up 256/4 against Zimbabwe in their Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Thursday. Reeling from their loss to South Africa in the previous outing, the reigning champions responded in emphatic fashion, posting the highest total of this tournament and the second-highest ever in cricket's T20 World Cup history.

Fifties from Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya powered India past the 254/6 that West Indies had hammered against Zimbabwe three days earlier, leaving them just four runs short of Sri Lanka’s record 260 set in 2007.

India’s innings was studded with 17 sixes — their most in a Men’s T20 World Cup match — along with 17 fours, as they piled up a staggering 170 runs through boundaries alone.

Despite a valiant 97 not out by Brian Bennett, India held Zimbabwe to 184/6 to complete a 72-run victory. It spelled end of the road for Zimbabwe, who had made a T20 World Cup breakthrough by beating Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights for the very first time.

While South Africa have already booked their final four spot, the India vs West Indies clash on Sunday is now essentially a knockout, with the winner progressing in the tournament.

After winning the toss, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza put India into bat.

There was a change at the top of the order, as Sanju Samson returned to the playing XI and opened the innings with Sharma. And he was straight into action, belting the second ball of the innings for a six.

Though Samson fell in the fourth over, he set the tone for the Indian innings as they motored to 80/1 in powerplay.

Even after the fielding restrictions were off, India continued to press on. Sharma, who struggled for form earlier in the tournament, laid down the marker with his maiden T20I fifty. He brought up his half-century in 26 balls and finished with 55 off 30, with the help of four fours and four sixes.

The Zimbabwe bowlers were completely at sea, as India went searching for the big runs. Their sloppy fielding -- they dropped at least two regulation catches -- didn't help either.

Every Indian batter contributed to the cause as India breezed past the markers -- 150 in the 13th over and 200 in the 17th and 250 in the last over. Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma (44 not out) provided the final flourish, knocking off 84 runs in just 31 balls for the unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership. Pandya struck two sixes off the last two balls to bring up his 50 in 23 balls and take India to that record high.

Three nights ago, when West Indies unleashed their batting fury, Zimbabwe looked shell-shocked. Though the African side managed the chase much better against India, they didn't finish anywhere close to the target.

They made a slow but steady start, scoring 44/0 in powerplay. Axar Patel marked his return to the playing XI by dismissing opener Tadiwanashe Marumani off his second ball to give India the breakthrough.

One of the finds of the tournament, Bennett waged a lone battle with another half-century. He struck a six against Jasprit Bumrah to bring up his 50 in 36 balls. Apart from Raza (31), there was little support for Bennett but he ended up as the highest scorer in the match, with an unbeaten 97 off 59 balls. In an innings that encapsulated his World Cup adventure, the right-handed batter hit eight fours and six sixes, and is currently the second-highest scorer in this edition so far.

Zimbabwe's carefully mounted World Cup challenge unravelled in the Super Eights. They will take on South Africa in their final match on Sunday with only pride to play for.

For India, it was pacer Arshdeep Singh who finished with the best figures, claiming 3/24 in four overs on a track that didn't offer a lot of help to bowlers.

Tags : Brian Bennett, India, cricket, Zimbabwe, Hardik Pandya, T20 World Cup