India squared off with Zimbabwe on Monday, August 2022 at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe and the series have come to end with India completely white-washing the host by denying them their most deserving win in the third ODI. Sikandar Raza’s ton had gone in vain as India defeated them by 13 runs to clinch the series.
KL Rahul‘s Men in Blue batted first and Shubman Gill‘s maiden ton helped the side post a challenging 289/8 in their alloted 50 overs. Shikhar Dhawan and Rahul scored 40 and 30 respectively while Ishan Kishan scored his second half-century.
Zimbabwe responded by losing the wicket of Innocent Kaia from Deepak Chahar‘s bowling. While Sean Williams played a brilliant knock of 45 runs off 46 balls that included seven bounaries before losing his wicket to Axar Patel.
Raza’s was the highest score from their side. He smashed nine boundaries and three sixes to score 115 runs off 95 balls but he failed to be the hero of his team by helping them win the third ODI. Shardul Thakur in the 48.4 over trapped him to the disbelief of Zimbabwean team and fans. A stunnings inning came to end when Thakur’s ball made Raza failed to get the elevation he wanted and it went flat towards long on. Gill dived forward and grabbed it. And from there on, Zimbabwe must have lost the hope and they lost the match by 13 runs to the visitors. Gill was adjudged the Player of the Match.
“Feels good, we came here with a good ideas. We wanted to be out in the middle and use this time. They have been very professional, very happy with the result. They took the game deep, we would have liked to finish the game earlier. The bowers were tested and they held their nerves. Fielded about 120 overs, got some time out in the middle with the bat,” Rahul said in the post-match presentation.
“I am tired coming back after a couple of months. But this is what we all want to do, playing for India. (On Gill) He’s been batting well since the IPL. Very pleasing to the eye. Not seen over-confident. That requires composure, to show that kind of temperament is good,” he added.
Check how Twitter reacted to Sikandar Raza’s knock and India’s victory
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