India keep semi-final hopes alive with win over Zimbabwe (photos)
After slipping up in their opener against South Africa, the pressure was firmly on India — and they delivered emphatically.
KATHMANDU: India kept their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign alive with a dominant 72-run victory over the Zimbabwe on Thursday, bouncing back in emphatic fashion after a difficult start to the Super 8s stage.
After slipping up in their opener against South Africa national cricket team, the pressure was firmly on India — and they responded with authority.
Batting first after Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, India unleashed a batting masterclass, piling up a staggering 256 for 4, one of the highest totals in T20 World Cup history.
The innings was powered by fluent half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya.
Abhishek, who had endured a forgettable tournament with three ducks in four matches, roared back with 55 off 30 balls, striking four fours and four sixes.
He added 48 for the opening wicket with Sanju Samson (24 off 15 balls) and 72 for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan (38 off 24 balls).
Hardik produced a brutal late assault, remaining unbeaten on 50 from just 23 deliveries, smashing two fours and four sixes.
He stitched together an unbroken 84-run stand off 31 balls with Tilak Varma, who blazed 44 not out from 16 balls, as India closed with a flourish.
India’s total matched the 254/6 earlier posted by the West Indies national cricket team against Zimbabwe in the same tournament and came close to the all-time T20 World Cup record of 260/6 set by the Sri Lanka national cricket team in the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe showed grit in the chase, led by a sensational unbeaten 97 off 59 balls from Brian Bennett, who smashed eight fours and six sixes.
Skipper Sikandar Raza added a quick 31 off 21 balls, while Tadiwanashe Marumani contributed 20. Despite the fight, Zimbabwe finished on 184 for 6, falling well short of the towering target.
India’s bowlers kept things tight, with Arshdeep Singh leading the attack with 3 for 24. Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube chipped in with a wicket each.
The win keeps India firmly in the hunt for a semi-final berth.
With India and West Indies both on two points in Group 1, their final Super 8s clash on Sunday shapes up as a virtual knockout, with the winner expected to seal a semi-final spot alongside the England national cricket team, South Africa, and one of New Zealand national cricket team or Pakistan national cricket team.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, bowed out of the tournament after suffering their second consecutive defeat.
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