Fine half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill helped India secure a series win over Zimbabwe with a comprehensive 10-wicket victory in the fourth T20I of the five-match series at Harare on Saturday. This win gave India an unassailable 3-1 series lead with one game remaining.
In their chase of 153 runs, India got off to a flying start as openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal attacked the bowlers from the outset. Jaiswal smashed three fours off Richard Ngarava in the opening over, and continued his assault on Tendai Chatara, hitting four boundaries in the third over. India reached the 50-run mark in just 3.5 overs, and by the end of the powerplay, they were 61/0, with Jaiswal on 47* and Gill on 13*.
Jaiswal brought up his half-century in just 29 balls, including nine fours. While Gill played the anchor role initially, he also began to open up, hitting three boundaries in the 10th over. India crossed the 100-run mark in 9.4 overs and reached 106/0 by the end of the 10th over. Gill reached his second successive half-century of the series in 35 balls, featuring six fours and a six. The duo guided India to victory in 15.2 overs, with Jaiswal hitting the winning four. Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 93* off 53 balls (13 fours, 2 sixes) and Gill on 58* off 39 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes).
Earlier, Zimbabwe posted a modest 152/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani and a crucial knock by skipper Sikandar Raza. Madhevere and Marumani attacked the Indian bowlers well in the powerplay, reaching 44/0 by the end of six overs. Marumani scored 32 off 31 balls, while Madhevere added 25 off 24 balls. Raza top-scored with 46 off 28 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes.
India’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Khaleel Ahmed (2/32) leading the way. Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Tushar Deshpande each picked up a wicket.
The series win has been a testament to India’s dominance, with the final match set to be a mere formality.
