HARARE, June 20: India rode on young seamer Barinder Sran�s memorable debut performance to notch up a crushing 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second Twenty20 International and level the three-match series 1-1 here today.
Asked to bowl after the coin landed in favour of Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer, a determined India restricted the hosts to 99 for nine in the stipulated 20 overs with Sran returning with the best figures by an Indian debutant in T20 format, to lay the foundation at the Harare Sports Club.
Mandeep Singh (52) and KL Rahul (47) then led the way with unbeaten knocks as the visitors chased down the target with 41 balls to spare.
This was India�s first 10-wicket win in this format.
Sran (4/10) was ably assisted by Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up three wickets for 11 runs in his quota of four overs.
Sran finished with excellent figures in his quota of four overs, which is the second best globally. Before Sran, Pragyan Ojha (4/21) against Bangladesh in 2009 World T20, held the Indian record.
The duo of Sran and Bumrah picked up seven wickets between them while giving away just 21 runs in eight economical overs.
Owing to the pace duo�s efforts, India staged a strong fightback after a shocking two-run loss in the opening T20 International of the three-match series at the same venue.
Bangladesh�s Elias Sunny (5/13) holds the record for the best bowling figures by a debutant in T20 Internationals.
Chasing a meagre total, India were off to a flying start with openers Rahul and Mandeep hardly facing any trouble against a mediocre Zimbabwean bowling attack.
SCORECARD
Zimbabwe: CJ Chibhabha c Rayudu b Sran 10, H Masakadza b Sran 10, PJ Moor c Patel b Bumrah 31, Sikandar Raza c Rahul b Sran 1, CT Mutombodzi lbw b Sran 0, MN Waller c Patel b Chahal 14, E Chigumbura b Bumrah 8, AG Cremer c Rayudu b Kulkarni 4, N Madziva b Bumrah 1, DT Tiripano not out 11, T Muzarabani not out 0; Extras (LB-4, W-4, NB-1) 9. Total: (For 9 wickets in 20 overs) 99. Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-26, 3-28, 4-28, 5-57, 6-75, 7-81, 8-83, 9-91. Bowling: BB Sran 4-0-10-4, DS Kulkarni 4-0-32-1, AR Patel 4-0-23-0, YS Chahal 4-1-19-1, JJ Bumrah 4-0-11-3.
India: KL Rahul not out 47, Mandeep Singh not out 52; Extras (W-3, NB-1) 4. Total (For no loss in 13.1 overs) 103. Bowling: DT Tiripano 3-0-11-0, N Madziva 2.1-0-19-0, T Muzarabani 2-0-17-0, AG Cremer 3-0-24-0, CJ Chibhabha 2-0-23-0, Sikandar Raza 1-0-9-0. � PTI
