GILL, JAISWAL: ROCK, STAR

Harare, July 13

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s flair was complemented by skipper Shubman Gill’s poise as a young Indian team cantered to a 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their fourth T20I, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

It is the second time India have won a T20 fixture by 10 wickets, the last coming against the same opposition at the same venue in 2016.

10 Jaiswal and Gill smashed 10 fours in their first four overs. It is the total number of hits Zimbabwe managed in their entire innings

2 It is the second time India have won a T20 fixture by 10 wickets, the last coming against the same opposition at the same venue in 2016

Jaiswal and Gill’s approach was in complete contrast as the Mumbai southpaw went hammer and tongs during his unbeaten 93-run knock, while his captain (58 not out) played the second fiddle in a chase of 153 which was completed in 15.2 overs.

The target was made to look easier than it should have been on a track that had good bounce and carry.

Jaiswal, who had to sit out during the T20 World Cup campaign hardly looked rusty, playing shots all around the wicket. The thumping back-drive off rival skipper Sikandar Raza was delightful and equally stylish was the pick-up pull off Richard Ngarava for a six.

The lack of pace in the Zimbabwean attack on a good wicket became home team’s undoing as Jaiswal reached his half-century with nine boundaries when Gill was yet to reach 15.

There was no way Zimbabwe could have stopped the run-feast as towards the end, the bigger interest was whether the two flagbearers of Indian batting into the next decade could reach their individual milestones of half-century and century. It was Gill who got his fifty, and that didn’t leave Jaiswal with enough runs to complete his hundred.

Earlier, India’s part-time bowlers Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma performed commendably in the middle overs to restrict Zimbabwe to a manageable 152/7 after being put in to bat by Gill.

Raza smashed 46 off 28 balls but India’s fifth bowler Abhishek (1/20 in 3 overs) and sixth option Dube (1/11 in 2 overs) produced kept the proceedings under control.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe: 152/7 in 20 overs (Raza 46, Madhevere 25, Marumani 32; Khaleel 2/32); India: 156/0 in 15.2 overs (Jaiswal 93*, Gill 58*).

Great bunch of players: Gill hails team

Harare: Shubman Gill was happy to tick off the “chase” box from his skipper’s check list in an emphatic manner as he was glowing in his praise for young team comprising “great bunch of players”. Yashasvi Jaiswal (93 off 53 balls) and skipper Gill (58 off 39 balls) hunted down a target of 153 with 28 balls to spare and the skipper expects this team to move forward in the right direction.

“Chasing was one thing we talked about. We could not do it in the first game, so good to get it done. The job is not done, though,” Gill stated during the post-match presentation.

“This is a great team, great bunch of players. Hopefully, we will be able to take the team forward.”

With the series already in the pocket, when asked about changes in the playing XI for the final fixture tomorrow, Gill did not reveal anything significant. “Haven’t had the discussion with the coach. If there are any changes, we will let you know at the toss tomorrow,” he added.—PTI