India end losing streak against Zimbabwe
By IANSSaturday, June 12, 2010
HARARE - India finally ended their losing streak when they beat Zimbabwe by six wickets in a Twenty20 match at the Harare Sports Club here Saturday.
India, winning the toss and fielding, first restricted Zimbabwe to 111 for nine in their 20 overs and then achieved the target with five overs and six wickets in hand. R. Vinay Kumar was the pick of Indian bowlers with three for 24 while Pragyan Ojha claimed two for 11.
It is India’s first win over the hosts in this tour as earlier they lost both their one-dayers against Zimbabwe in the tri-series.
Some early wickets did sound the alarm bells Saturday when India slumped to 48 for four in the eighth over before Virat Kohli (26 not out) and Yusuf Pathan (37 not out) saw the visitors back on track. Pathan’s innings came off just 24 balls and included two fours and three sixes.
Kohli’s 21-ball innings had three fours and a six.
Earlier, Zimbabwe made a breezy start with Chamu Chibhabha (40) and Brendan Taylor (15) after the loss the loss of Hamilton Masakadza in the first over.
After their fall, the hosts were soon tottering at 81 for six. The spinners Pragyan Ojha, R. Ashwin and Piyush Chawla did the trick for India and contributed just 57 runs in 14 overs among them. Ojha also bowled the most economical Twenty20 figures for India.
Chibhabha, stood out smashing four fours and a six in 30 balls.
