Gill, Jaiswal guide India to series win over Zimbabwe in 4th T20I

Harare, July 13: Fine. half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill helped India secure a series win over Zimbabwe after beating the hosts by 10 wickets in the fourth T20I of the five-match series at Harare on Saturday.

With this win, India has a 3-1 unassailable series lead over Zimbabwe, with a game to go.

In the run chase of 153 runs, India was off to a fine start as openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal attacked the bowlers right from ball one. 15 runs came in the opening over by Richard Ngarava, as Jaiswal smashed him for three fours.

Tendai Chatara was the next bowler to face Jaiswal’s brunt, as he was smashed for four boundaries in the third over.

With a boundary from Jaiswal, India reached the 50-run mark in just 3.5 overs.

At the end of six overs, India was 61/0, with Jaiswal (47*) and Gill (13*) unbeaten.

Jaiswal reached his half-century in just 29 balls, with nine fours.

Though Gill largely played an anchor to Jaiswal, he let his hands loose in the 10th over, scoring three boundaries against Faraz Akram’s bowling.

India reached the 100-run mark in 9.4 overs.

At the end of 10 overs, India was 106/0, with Gill (32*) and Jaiswal (65*) unbeaten.

With a double, Gill reached his second successive half-century in the series, in just 35 balls, with six fours and a six.

India reached the 150-run mark in 14.5 overs.

India chased down the target easily in 15.2 overs, with Jaiswal hitting the winning four for a 10-wicket win. Jaiswal (93* in 53 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes) and Gill (58* in 39 balls, with six fours and two sixes) played fine knocks to win the series.

Earlier, a fine half-century opening partnership between Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani and a crucial knock by skipper Sikandar Raza helped Zimbabwe put a modest 152/7 on the board in the fourth T20I of the five-match series against India at Harare on Saturday.

Put to the batting first by India, Zimbabwe was off to a fine start as openers Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani attacked Indian bowlers well in the powerplay.

Debutant pacer Tushar Deshpande faced the worst of it as the duo hit him for some classy fours, including three by Madhevere himself.

At the end of six overs of powerplay, Zimbabwe was 44/0, with Marumani (18*) and Madhevere (19*) unbeaten.

In 7.1 overs, Zimbabwe crossed the 50-run mark without losing a wicket.

Abhishek Sharma’s part time spin struck for India as a fine catch by Rinku Singh near the boundary got India the wicket of Marumani for 32 in 31 balls, with three fours. Zimbabwe was 63/1 in 8.4 overs.