India crush Zimbabwe by 90 runs in second T20, take 2-0 series lead
Ishan Kishan's 81 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 60 powered India to 219-5 before bowlers dismissed Zimbabwe for 129 at Harare Sports Club.
Sooryavanshi's promising start cut short
India were asked to bat first. The 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, playing his second international, provided early impetus with three fours and a six in the powerplay, racing to 20. However, Abhishek Sharma, who had fallen to Blessing Muzarabani in the first T20, suffered the same fate, edging behind. Muzarabani then took a fine catch at long-on to remove Sooryavanshi off Richard Ngarava, and India slipped to 29-2. The double strike gave Zimbabwe a glimmer, but it was short-lived.
Kishan-Varma century stand powers India to 219
After the early losses, captain Shreyas Iyer joined Ishan Kishan and the pair rebuilt cautiously, adding 66 runs for the third wicket off 42 balls. Iyer, looking to rotate strike, was caught at backward point off Brian Bennett for 25, a soft dismissal that brought the more aggressive Tilak Varma to the crease. What followed transformed the innings. Varma signalled his intent immediately, launching his third ball for six, and together with Kishan, the two tore into Zimbabwe's bowling. The partnership yielded 94 runs in either 43 or 44 balls, with Kishan reaching his 13th T20 half-century off 31 deliveries and Varma racing to his fifty off just 23 balls. Kishan's strokeplay featured nine fours and two sixes, while Varma clubbed three sixes of his own. The left-hander's innings ended in the 18th over when he mistimed a wild slog at a wide delivery from Ngarava and was caught at deep midwicket. Varma, unbeaten on 60 from 29 balls, then guided India past the 200-run mark, the score finishing at 219-5.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hits three fours and a six, India 29-2 as Abhishek Sharma falls to Muzarabani and Sooryavanshi caught off Ngarava
- Kishan and Shreyas Iyer add 66 runs for the third wicket; Iyer caught at backward point for 25
- Kishan and Tilak Varma put on 94 runs in 43 balls; Kishan scores 13th T20 half-century, falls in 18th over
- Varma (60* off 29) sees India to 219-5
- Brian Bennett smashes 32 off 19, then falls to Yash Thakur
- Abhishek Sharma takes 3-17, Zimbabwe all out for 129 in 17.5 overs
Zimbabwe collapse after Bennett's early charge
Zimbabwe were set a record chase of 220. Opener Brian Bennett provided a brief scare, hammering three fours and three sixes in a 19-ball 32 that took Zimbabwe to 45 without loss. Debutant Yash Thakur then trapped Bennett, caught, and the dismissal triggered a steady fall of wickets. Thakur finished with 2-30 on his T20I debut, and the slow left-arm of Abhishek Sharma did the bulk of the damage, claiming 3-17 including two catches in the deep. Another debutant, Prince Yadav, removed two more batsmen in his 1.2 overs before leaving the field with a hamstring injury. Zimbabwe collapsed to 129 all out in 17.5 overs, handing India victory by 90 runs.
Series sealed with a game to spare
India had won the opening T20 on Thursday by seven wickets with 40 balls to spare. Saturday's victory gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The final game will be played at the same Harare Sports Club venue on Sunday.
