Ind-Zim 3rd T20I: Men-in-Blue makes series with all-round show

Harare: In the 3rd T20I match of a five-match series against Zimbabwe, India won by 23 runs after they put a fair score for Zimbabwe to chase and fail on Wednesday afternoon. Skipper Shubmann Gill (66 off 49), Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 off 27) and Gaikwad (49 off 28) propelled India to 182 for four against Zimbabwe after the visitors opted to bat on a fresh pitch, PTI reported.

Zimbabwe were never really in the run chase despite an entertaining effort from number four Dion Myers (65, not out 49), ending at 159 for six in their stipulated 20 overs.

Washington Sundar, who is likely to play a bigger role in India's T20 set-up after the retirement of Ravindra Jadeja, struck thrice while Avesh Khan took a couple of wickets.

The fourth T20 of the five-match series will be staged here on Saturday, July 13. After a loss in the series opener, India have restored normal service with back-to-back victories.

After Avesh Khan bounced out opener Wessly Madhevere in the second over, the wickets kept falling for the home team. However, Zimbabwe did well in steading the ship after losing their first five wickets for 39 runs. The 77-run standoff 57 balls between Myers and Clive Madande (37 off 26) put much-needed life into the game.

Earlier, Gill-led India made some interesting selection calls. They duly inducted World Cup winners Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (12 not out of 7) and Shivam Dube into the playing eleven, leaving out the likes of Riyan Parag in the middle order.

Sanju came to bat at number five, with four specialist openers: Jaiswal, Gill, Abhishek Sharma (10 off 9), and Gaikwad, who occupy the top four positions, respectively.

Jaiswal, who did not get a game in India's triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup, was happy to be back in the middle and went for his shots from the get-go.

The southpaw collected a couple of fours and a six over deep-midwicket in the opening over bowled by off-spinner Brian Bennett to set the tone.

Gill began with a gorgeous on-drive off left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava before pulling him for a six over fine-leg.

Zimbabwe were poor in the field, to say the least, conceding extra runs and grassing regulation catches throughout the innings. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani (2/25) once again got the extra bounce from the length and was the pick of the bowlers.

After racing to 49 for no loss in four overs, India could not maintain that tempo, reaching 55 in the powerplay with both openers in the centre.

Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who was impressed again with the ball, got the breakthrough for his team as Jaiswal's reverse sweep went straight into the hands of the fielder at the backward point. Last game's centurion, Abhishek, did not last long and was holed out in the deep off Raza.

Gaikwad, finding himself at an unusual batting position, was able to milk the spinners in the middle overs and ended with four boundaries and three sixes.