Skipper Rahul says there were no jitters despite top-order wobble as India notch up a comprehensive five-wkt win, chasing Zimbabwe’s 161; Samson and Shardul shine in ODI series-clinching victory
Sanju Samson en route his 43* at Harare on Saturday. Pic/AP; PTI
India’s top order wobbled a bit while chasing a small total, but captain KL Rahul said his side were not nervous as it notched up a comprehensive five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI to clinch the series with one match remaining here on Saturday.
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Chasing 162 to win, India were 97-4 at the end of the 14th over before Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 43 off 39 balls took the visitors home with 24.2 overs left.
KL Rahul
“We bat deep and it’s good for some of the guys to get time in the middle. We weren’t nervous,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation.
‘Zim have quality bowlers’
“They [Zimbabwe] have some quality bowlers and they bowled well against Bangladesh, I watched on the television. The bowlers did come hard, they’re tall and big and strong boys.
Shardul Thakur (left) celebrates a wicket with Axar Patel on Saturday. Pic/ICC
“Good challenge for us as batters, but we bat deep so it wasn’t a worry.”
Rahul promoted himself at the top of the batting order to open the India innings with Shikhar Dhawan, but was out for 1 in the second over of the run chase. “It didn’t work [on the changed batting order], I wanted to get some runs, but it didn’t happen. Hopefully in the next game,” he said.
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“We’re here to play good cricket and win. It’s a great turnout today, it’s a weekend, and wherever we go across the world we get good support from Indian fans, so thanks to them.”
Man of the match Sanju Samson said he enjoyed keeping wickets and contributing with the bat.
“Feels good to spend time in the middle. I took three catches, but I missed a stumping too; as ’keepers we’re used to listening to things we didn’t do well,” said Samson, who took three catches and scored an unbeaten 43.
For hosts Zimbabwe, it was their second successive loss and captain Regis Chakabva said his team has lacked in execution with both bat and ball.
Execution issue
“We had a really good fight in the field. We’ve struggled to pick early wickets in the last few games and we did that today,” Chakabva said.
“We fell short of runs on the board. Our execution lacked a little bit in the end, and we’re looking to score more runs. The bowlers came out charging and they tried to hit their lengths,” he added.
Brief scores
Zimbabwe 161 all out in 38.1 overs (S Williams 42, R Burl 39*; S Thakur 3-38) lost to India 167-5 in 25.4 overs (S Samson 43*, S Gill 33, S Dhawan 33; L Jongwe 2-33) by five wickets
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