Led by a maiden century in international cricket for Shubman Gill, India shrugged off their complacency in the death overs to ensure a 13-run victory over Zimbabwe and complete a three-match ODI clean sweep in Harare on Monday, August 22. Sikandar Raza also hit a century while chasing 290, but it was not enough as Avesh Khan closed out the match in the final overs, with Zimbabwe being bowled out for 276 runs.
Sikandar Raza's efforts in vain
The hosts started their innings on a slow note, with Deepak Chahar finding the early breakthrough in the third over when he dismissed Innocent Kaia for just six runs.
Sean Williams's 45-run innings seemed like a saving grace, but he was also caught leg before, this time by Harshal Patel. Then came the in-form Sikandar Raza, who was in fine nick while the wickets fell around him. He kept Zimbabwe in the game to the very end and put many of the bowlers, especially Deepak Chahar and Avesh Khan under the knife.
With Zimbabwe needing 16 runs in 11 balls, the match seemed to tilt in their favour but a brilliant piece of fielding by Shubman Gill off Shardul Thakur ended Raza's astonishing innings of 115 runs in 95 balls, where he had a strike rate of 121.05.
Avesh went on the close out the game with some brilliant yorkers in the final over closing out what seemed like an easy defence to a tough battle of nerves between the two teams.
Shubman Gill creates records with century
Earlier, Gill hit 130 runs for the side during the third ODI, leading India to a formidable total of 289 runs. His innings of 130 runs came off 97 balls, striking at a rate of 134.02. He hit 15 fours and a six, and also set up a 140-run partnership with Ishan Kishan for the third wicket. Kishan himself scored 50 runs in 61 balls before he was run out by Tony Munyonga. Shikhar Dhawan also helped with a handy 40.
Brad Evans (5/54) picked up his maiden five-wicket haul for the home team.
Gill's ton broke a 24-year-long record held by the legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar on Zimbabwe soil. He now has the highest individual score by an Indian batter in Zimbabwe in ODIs. It was a long time coming for Gill, who has lost his wicket in the 90s multiple times.
The starlet has been brilliant throughout the series in the absence of Virat Kohli. Gill is currently playing on no. 3, in the absence of Kohli but might cement his place in the team.
