ZIMBABWE cricket team captain Elton Chigumbura scored his second consecutive century, but it was in another losing cause as India held on for a nervy four-run victory to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match one-day international (ODI) series at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The big hitting all-rounder, who scored another century in vain during the Pakistan tour, needed a six from the last ball to steer Zimbabwe past the finishing line in this thrilling encounter.
However, in a cruel end to the home side’s run chase, he could only manage a single as Bhuvneshwar Kumar hurled a yorker on a leg-stump which restricted Zimbabwe to 251 for seven in pursuit of India’s 255 for six.
Chigumbura, who struck eight fours and a six in his knock of 108 for 101 balls, attributed the defeat to loss of wickets at crucial stages in the match.
“It was disappointing to lose the game after getting so close,” said Chigumbura in his post-match interview.
“It is something we can learn from. I thought it was a good wicket to bat on, but we kept losing wickets. Losing wickets in groups made the difference today. It is also good to score runs and hopefully I can carry on and win for the team,” he said.
Ambatu Rayudu’s career-best 124 had earlier rescued India from a potentially disastrous start as the tourists recovered from 87 for five at the halfway mark to post a respectable 255 for six in their allotted 50 overs after Zimbabwe had won the toss and elected to field.
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Zimbabwe’s bowlers were yet again guilty of allowing their opponents to claw their way back into the match having bowled superbly at the start.
Rayudu and Stuart Binny shared a 160-run sixth wicket stand, the highest for India in Zimbabwe, with the latter reaching his maiden one-day 50.
The 29-year-old, who was named man of the match, reached his second ODI century from just 71 deliveries before finishing unbeaten on 124 while all-rounder Binny scored 77 from 92 deliveries to rescue India’s innings.
Chamu Chibhabha was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers as he made good use of the favourable conditions to take two wickets for 25 runs from 10 overs.
In pursuit of a fairly gettable target, Zimbabwe initially struggled to gather any momentum as they lost their first four wickets for just 94 runs with the Indian taking wickets at regular intervals.
After Chibhabha (3) was dismissed early with just 16 runs on the board, Vusi Sibanda (20) and Hamilton Masakadza (34) also made valuable contributions, but failed to capitalise on promising starts, which proved costly for Zimbabwe in the end.
Left-hander Sean Williams lasted only two deliveries before he was clean-bowled by left-arm spinner Axar Patel for a duck to leave Zimbabwe in trouble on 94 for four in the 25th over.
Sikandar Raza gave the appreciative crowd some hope as he shared a 48-run stand for the sixth wicket with Chigumbura before gifting his wicket away after pulling Harbhajan Singh straight to Patel, who took a difficult catch from midwicket.
With wicketkeeper/batsman Richmond Mutumbami managing only seven runs, Chigumbura found a willing partner in Graeme Cremer as the pair added 86 runs for the seventh wicket.
The pair kept Zimbabwe in the game with Chigumbura reaching his half century in 65 balls while Cremer kept the scoreboard ticking with quick singles to set up a nervy finish.
After a watchful start, Chigumbura picked up the pace with his second half century coming at a quicker rate in 31 balls as the rejuvenated skipper reached his second consecutive ton in 96 balls.
The loss of Cremer in the penultimate over proved to be the masterstroke for India as they brought a new batsman to the crease in Donald Tiripano, which put more pressure on Chigumbura.
Zimbabwe, who have now lost their last nine ODIs dating back to the win over UAE at the World Cup in February, will be hoping to keep the three-match series alive during the second ODI tomorrow.
