India dismantle hosts with six wickets to spare

India overcame a shaky start to register their first win over Zimbabwe on the current tour as they beat the hosts by six wickets in the first Twenty20 International cricket match here today.

Chasing a modest 112 to win, India dismantled their opponents with five overs to spare. Yusuf Pathan and Virat Kohli finished off the game for the visitors, who were shocked by the African minnows twice in the one-day tri-series.

Earlier, shaking off the tri-series rust, Indian bowlers showed discipline and restricted Zimbabwe to a meagre 111 for nine at Harare Sports Club here today.

Paceman R Vinay Kumar (3/24) was the most successful bowler with three wickets while Ashok Dinda (2/27) and Pragyan Ojha (2/11) accounted for two victims apiece.

During India’s chase, big-hitting Pathan and youngster Kohli shared an unbeaten 64-run stand for the fifth wicket to rescue India from a precarious 48 for 4.

Pathan’s 23-ball knock contained two fours and three sixes while Kohli faced 22 balls with three fours and a six.

India, like their opponents, began poorly as they lost openers — Murali Vijay (5) and Naman Ojha (2) to paceman Chris Mpofu by the third over.

Skipper Suresh Raina (28) played a good hand in the middle order to re-build the innings with Rohit Sharma (10).

However, both of them returned to the dug out in the eighth over with spinner Ray Price (2/24) getting rid of them in the eighth over.

It became jittery for India but Pathan and Kohli ensured that their side do not end up facing more humiliation.

Earlier, Chamu Chibhabha (40) and Craig Ervine (30) stood tall amid ruins for the hosts, as their middle and lower order collapsed after a sound start.

Opting to field, Vinay Kumar gave India a perfect start and landed the first blow to the hosts as early as in the fourth ball of the match when he got rid of Hamilton Masakadza (1), caught by skipper Suresh Raina at extra cover.

Vinay was hit for a four and two sixes in his next over by Chibhabha and Brendan Taylor (15) but the paceman got his revenge when he caught the latter plumb in front of the wicket in the last ball of the same over.