By Tendai Chisiri
A record-breaking 50 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi powered India to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the opening T20 International of the three-match series at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
Chasing just 126, India reached the target in 13.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Put in to bat after India won the toss, Zimbabwe made the worst possible start. Mayank Yadav struck in the first over to remove Brian Bennett for a duck, caught behind by Ishan Kishan.
Debutant Ben Curran showed intent with two early boundaries but fell for 10 in the fourth over, caught at midwicket off Prince Yadav with the score on 19.
Things got worse in the fifth over when Dion Myers picked out mid-on off Mayank for 6, leaving Zimbabwe reeling at 20 for 3.
Captain Sikandar Raza’s early arrival did little to steady the innings as he fell for 4 to Shivam Dube, and Zimbabwe reached the halfway mark on 46 for 4.
Ryan Burl’s slow start — 1 from his first 13 balls — ended on 26 when he was caught on the long-off boundary off Ravi Bishnoi.
It was Wessly Madhevere, 39 off 34, and Tadiwanashe Marumani, 27_ off 20, who rescued the hosts. The pair added 58 runs to push Zimbabwe past 100. Madhevere was run out attempting a risky second in the 19th over, while Marumani finished unbeaten. Brad Evans also debuted but fell for a duck.
India’s pace duo of Mayank Yadav (2/18) and Prince Yadav (2/19) shared four wickets, with Bishnoi adding 1/24.
India’s chase started cautiously against Blessing Muzarabani before Sooryavanshi exploded.
The 15-year-old left-hander took Richard Ngarava for 6, 4, 6 in one over and raced to 30 off just 8 balls. He continued the onslaught against Muzarabani and debutant Newman Nyamhuri, who was also handed his first cap.
Kishan joined in with three fours and a two off Nyamhuri as India surged to 52-1.
Ngarava finally broke through when Sooryavanshi top-edged to Curran at deep third for 50 off 19 balls. The knock included 4 sixes and 4 fours and made Sooryavanshi the youngest player ever to score a T20I half-century.
Kishan added a brisk 35 off 24 before chipping Muzarabani to Myers at cover. Shreyas Iyer then finished unbeaten on 28_ as Tilak Varma hit the winning runs in the 14th over.
Muzarabani was Zimbabwe’s best with 2/26, while Raza bowled tightly with 1/14 from 3 overs
The second T20I of the series will also be played at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Brief Scores:
Zimbabwe 125-7 in 20 overs: Madhevere 39, Marumani 27_, Burl 26; Mayank 2/18, Prince 2/19
India 126-3 in 13.2 overs: Sooryavanshi 50, Kishan 35, Iyer 28_; Muzarabani 2/26
Result: India won by 7 wickets
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