(Image source from: x.com/ICC)
Zimbabwe restricted India to a total of 167 despite a half-century behind Sanju Samson and took the lead in the chase after some strong power plays. However, Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube struggled with the ball for a possible win for Zimbabwe as India claimed a 42-run win and staged a stunning comeback in Harare after losing the series opener. Sunday's win was India's fourth in a row, all of which ended easily. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza gave India the lead after winning the toss for the first time in the entire series. Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to capitalize on his best score, scoring 26 in the first two balls of the game, which also scored one of Reza's no-balls. His start in the first game was a failure. This brought Abhishek Sharma but his stay was also short-lived as he was caught back by Blessing Mazarbani with a diagonal long ball. Shubman Gill followed Abhishek into the crease when Richard Ngaraba's short ball went wide and deflected the shot into the middle.
India were 44 for 3 after the powerplay with the first three wickets, forcing No. 4 Samson, who performed in the absence of Rotoraj Gaikwad, and No. 5 Ryan Parag, batting for the second time in the series, to rebuild. . . They combined for 56 balls and certainly prevented India from collapsing, despite adding just 65 balls for the fourth wicket. Parag completed a 24-ball 22 and was dismissed by the spin-happy Brandon Mavotta as he tried to increase the scoring rate. But Samson made the most of his time and set off. At one point he got 17 from 18 balls, but when Mavotta threw the ball into the bow, he took advantage and increased his scoring rate. Samson hit a total of four sixes but only one four. Samson was down 58-45 because the ball fell deep into Mazarbani's goal on the 18th. India were 135 with 15 balls left. 3 laid the foundation for an offensive finish. In a 12-ball 26, Dube spoiled the economy by hitting Ngaraba for fours, sixes and fours in the 19th over while Rinku Singh hit a six in the 20th over to ensure India remained on top. Mazarbani scored twice in 19 overs. His four overs were the best among the five bowlers used by Zimbabwe.
A 42-run victory in the 5th & Final T20I
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 14, 2024
With that win, #TeamIndia complete a 4⃣-1⃣ series win in Zimbabwe
Scorecard https://t.co/TZH0TNJcBQ#ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/oJpasyhcTJ
Mukesh, who was back in the starting eleven for the final game of the series, continued his habit of striking early and picked up his third first over in three games. This time Wesley Madhoya was the victim, smashing a ball that hit the right-handed batsman hard and went for a duck. Mukesh added his second goal by tricking Brian Bennett (10) into an offside position. Mukesh played a neat pass to Tadiwanashe Malmani from near the wicket and could have scored the third by pushing back the latter's stumps, but Malmani and No. 4 Dion Myers (34) missed the wicket and eventually the commentary came. Like a costly mistake, they attacked seamer Tushar Deshpande and wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnavi. They particularly struggled against Bishnoi, who Zimbabwe have struggled with in all series so far, starting with the match spinner scoring 16 runs in six overs to take Zimbabwe to 47 for two. Washington took the ball on the power play and shot beyond second. Around the wicket to Malmani, Malmani hit it and tried to get through the line. The dismissal halted the game and allowed India to win the game back in their favor as Bishnavi and Washington took control of the game.
Dub entered the wicket with a steady shift and took wickets with short balls in the 13th and 15th overs respectively. He first fired Myers, then Jonathan Campbell. In the middle of the over, he sent Reza running with a direct hit to the bowler's end. All of this resulted in Zimbabwe struggling to a score of 90-6. Dube eventually finished with 2 for 25 but Abhishek and Deshpande also took a wicket each and the game was out of Zimbabwe's hands. Faraz Akram (27-13) entertained the home crowd late in the innings with two fours and two sixes but was caught by Mukesh in the 19th over. Afterwards, Ngaraba's No. 11 failed to fully clear the fast balls and Mukesh posted his best T20I performance of 4 for 22. Dubey was adjudged man of the match with 26 off 12 balls and 2 off 25 balls. Washington defended this player's rights. He won the Series Off trophy with 8 wickets at an average of 11.62 and an economy rate of 5.16.
