Prosper Utseya became the latest Zimbabwean batsman to be dismissed as the African side continued to fall apart under pressure in the third ODI against India at Harare Sports Club in Harare on Sunday.
Utseya (10) fell to a good length delivery by Shami Ahmed. The ball was pitched outside off stump which the Zimbabwean batsman edged to the wicket-keeper.
Zimbabwe kept on losing wickets at regular intervals as Indian bowlers exerted pressure from the beginning to deny the hosts easy runs.
Ravindra Jadeja dismissed in-from batsman Elton Chigumbura as Zimbabwe were left scrambling for runs. Jadeja bowled a pitched up delivery which angled into the batsman. Chigumbura (3) missed the ball and was given LBW.
Amit Mishra took two wickets in two balls as Zimbabwe lost half of their side inside 20 overs.
Mishra dismissed Hamilton Masakadza (38) who had patiently built a 65-run partnership for the third wicket with skipper Brendan Taylor after losing their openers Vusi Sibanda and Sikandar Raza cheaply.
Malcolm Waller (0) became Mishra's second victim when he was hit plumb in front of the wicket and was given LBW.
Jaydev Unadkat broke what was starting to be a promising partnership when he dismissed Zimbabwe skipper Taylor (23).
Zimbabwe skipper mistimed the ball and was taken at mid-off, thanks to a good catch by Ahmed.
Pacers Vinay Kumar and Shami Ahmed dismissed openers Sibanda and Raza respectively to leave Zimbabwe in trouble.
Kumar struck in the first over for India when Sibanda (0) mishit the ball and sent it straight to Shikhar Dhawan in the covers.
Raza (1) too followed Sibanda to the pavilion moments later when he edged an outswinger by Shami Ahmed to wicket-keeper.
Earlier, Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bowl against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
India did not make any changes in their playing XI from the last match.
Kyle Jarvis was rested while Michael Chinouya made his ODI debut for Zimbabwe.
India have a 2-0 lead on the back of an impressive show by their young batsmen and now need just one more win to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (Capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Shami Ahmed, R Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat
Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (Capt.), Hamilton Masakadza, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Brian Vitori, Prosper Utseya, Michael Chinouya, Tendai Chatara.
Source:
Times of India
