India 182 for 4 (Gill 66, Gaikwad 49, Jaiswal 36, Raza 2-24, Muzarabani 2-25) beat Zimbabwe 159 for 6 (Myers 65*, Madande 37, Washington 3-15, Avesh 2-39) by 23 runs
Ultimately, India took a big step towards victory in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe with a 23-run win in the third match to take a 2-1 lead.
Gill and Jaiswal meet at the top
The return of three players from the T20 World Cup-winning team forced India to change tactics. Jaiswal was the regular opener – every time India played without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – and he regained the top spot with Gill. As a result, Abhishek Sharma, who just scored his maiden international century in the second T20I, and Gaikwad had to play at positions 3 and 4.
Gill Anchors, Gaikwad Batons
Abhishek had a brief stint in the middle, which allowed Gill and Gaikwad to come together in the 11th over. Wessly Madhevere’s lone over – the 13th of the innings – allowed India to change gears. Gill first hit the legspinner for a six before Gaikwad hit him for a six and a four. Gaikwad used his feet consistently, even against pace, to bowl Tendai Chatara and later Richard Ngarava, who replaced Luke Jongwe in Zimbabwe’s XI, out of their lengths.
Gill accelerated to bring up a fifty in 36 balls, his first as India captain in T20Is. However, despite a long batting order – Washington was seeded at No. 8 – India were in danger of finishing below par when they were 130 for 2 after 16. That was when an 18-run over from Raza – with four byes and a six each from Gill and Gaikwad – lifted them. But the extra bounce on the surface consumed Gill in the 18th over, when he looked to bowl Muzarabani over the covers but missed it to the returning Raza. Gaikwad hit a few vigorous shots but fell one run short of fifty.
India finished at 182, which is not at all below par. Two half-century partnerships – 67 off 50 between Gill and Jaiswal and 72 off 44 between Gill and Gaikwad – had taken India there, and Jaiswal, at the break, felt that was enough.
What helped them were a few missed half-chances, two missed catches – one from Jaiswal and one from Gaikwad – and a plethora of misses.
Fielding lets Zimbabwe down again
When Chatara failed to get his hands on Jaiswal’s shot in the first over, little did Zimbabwe know that it was a harbinger. In the next over, Myers reacted a little late to a top edge from Gill and the ball landed just in front of him running from mid-wicket. Jaiswal and Gaikwad were given a reprieve. A few half-chances were missed. The mishaps in the field were mostly regulation efforts, which allowed India to get off to a good start despite being given 22 runs in the powerplay. Overall, India were given 31 runs as per ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data. The final margin of victory was just 23.
Zimbabwe loses its way and finds it too late
When Raza crossed the line to score in the deep square on Washington’s second ball, the writing seemed to be on the wall. Things got better for India – and worse for Zimbabwe – when substitute Riyan Parag took a crisp catch to dismiss Johnathan Campbell four balls later against Washington.
But Myers and Madande had other plans. India’s decision to welcome back all their returning players from the T20 World Cup left them short of bowling resources. As a result, Abhishek and Shivam Dube had to combine to bowl four overs. Myers and Madande didn’t let them settle for six fours and two sixes. Those four overs cost India 50. Thanks to early breakthroughs, it didn’t cost them much on the day.
S Sudarshanan is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Sudarshanan7
