Sanju Samson was the hero of the hour for India in the fifth and final T20I against Zimbabwe, guiding his team to a dominant 42-run victory and a resounding 4-1 series win.
Samson Shines as India Clinches Series Victory in Harare
Batting first after Zimbabwe won their first toss of the series, India got off to a dramatic start. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed consecutive sixes off the first two balls of the innings, bowled by Sikandar Raza, only to be dismissed off a no-ball free hit later in the over. Zimbabwe's bowlers tightened their grip, taking wickets at regular intervals to restrict India to a modest 40/3 within the powerplay.
Enter Sanju Samson, promoted to number 4. He played a mature and composed innings, anchoring the Indian batting. He found an able partner in Riyan Parag (22 off 24 balls), and together they built a crucial 65-run partnership to stabilize the innings. Samson showcased his talent, reaching his fifty in just 39 balls, before departing for a well-made 58. Disciplined bowling from Mukesh Kumar, who made his debut in this match, further hampered Zimbabwe's chase. The hosts' middle order woes continued, and they could only manage 125 runs before being bowled out. This emphatic victory capped off a successful tour for India, sealing the series with a convincing display in Harare.
Mukesh Kumar shines with a brilliant four-fer
Following Riyan Parag's dismissal, Sanju Samson (58 off 45 balls) shifted into a higher gear. He found valuable support from Shivam Dube, who smashed a quickfire 26 off just 12 deliveries. Samson's wicket marked a turning point, however, as Zimbabwe sensed an opportunity to restrict India's total. A late blitz from Rinku Singh helped India reach a respectable 167 for 6 in their 20 overs, setting a challenging target for the hosts.
Zimbabwe's chase began disastrously. Debutant Mukesh Kumar made an immediate impact, dismissing Wessley Madhevere for a golden duck in the first over. He doubled his tally in the second over by sending Brian Bennett back to the pavilion. Disaster almost struck again for Zimbabwe as Tadiwanashe Marumani was adjudged bowled by Kumar, but a reprieve due to a no-ball proved costly for India. Marumani capitalised on his second chance, taking down Ravi Bishnoi.
Despite the early hiccups, Marumani and Dion Myers steadied the ship with a 44-run partnership. However, their momentum was halted when Washington Sundar dismissed Marumani. Myers found another ally in Sikandar Raza, and they built another important stand. Once again, the tide turned with the dismissal of Myers by Shivam Dube. Chaos ensued in the Zimbabwean batting order, as they crumbled from a promising position of 85/3 to 90/6 within a span of just two overs. A comical run-out involving Raza and Craig Ervine compounded their woes, and Abhishek Sharma added another wicket to his tally. Left reeling at 94/7, Zimbabwe's resistance was effectively broken, and they were eventually bowled out for 125 runs, handing India a convincing 42-run victory.
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