After a last-ball victory in the first ODI, the new-look Indian side will look to put on an improved performance in the second rubber and thereby take an unassailable lead in the three-match series. Zimbabwe, to their credit, showed stomach for a fight and skipper Elton Chigumbura epitomised that with a gallant unbeaten 104. The home team's sprightly attitude will serve them well, but as the captain mentioned after the first game, the front-line batsmen need to show more responsibility and ensure that the team does not rely on the lower order in crunch situations.
Zimbabwe vs India, 2nd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
Series: India tour of Zimbabwe, 2015 Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare Date & Time: Jul 12, 09:00 AM LOCAL
Ajinkya Rahane scored a solid half-century as India scored 271 in their 50 overs. © Cricbuzz
The Indians have much to worry about on the batting front given that the middle order let the side down badly. In fact, had it not been for career-best efforts by Ambati Rayudu and Stuart Binny, even putting up a decent total on the board would have been quite tough for the tourists. The likes of Murali Vijay, Manoj Tiwary and skipper Ajinkya Rahane himself will have to come up with improved performances to ensure that India do not find themselves in a tough position again.
Ajinkya Rahane completed a 73-ball half-century, his 10th in ODIs, as India continued to build on their solid start to the second ODI after losing the toss. Rahane was ably supported by a cautious Murali Vijay, who made up for his batting failure in the first innings, by moving on to a sedate 35. Incidentally, Vijay's highest ODI score before this innings was 33 against New Zealand in 2010.
The spinners Cremer and Williams continued to extract significant turn and bounce found from this Harare surface as the Indian openers completed a 100-run opening stand. With the run-rate steadily increasing past the 4-run mark, Elton Chigummbura introduced Chamu Chibhabha into the attack. The medium-pacer bowled extremely well in the first ODI for his two wickets.
How Zimbabwe would like a breakthrough here!
For a second game in a row, Elton Chigumbura won the toss and opt to field first. That essentially means that Ajinkya Rahane and Co. will have to cope with the swinging ball on a fresh surface yet again. This time, however, Zimbabwe's lead bowler Tinashe Panyangara will not be around. The medium-pacer suffered a side-strain during the first ODI and will be replaced by Neville Madziva.
Ajinkya Rahane wasn't too perturbed at losing the toss. He reckoned that it would be another test for the batsman on a Harare Sports Club wicket that is once again expected to have something in it for the new-ball bowlers. As was expected, India are unchanged.
Team News:
India (Playing XI): Ajinkya Rahane(c), Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa(w), Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni
Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura(c), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Richmond Mutumbami(w), Graeme Cremer, Donald Tiripano, Brian Vitori, Neville Madziva
Chigumbura: "We must ensure that we do the same thing, improve by that one percent in batting."
Chigumbura: "We must ensure that we do the same thing, improve by that one percent in batting."
Donald Tiripano shared the new ball with Brian Vitori in Panyangara's absence. Vitori continued to probe the openers' technique early in the inning, his left-armer's angle taking the ball across the right-handed Vijay and Rahane. Tiripano, despite being fairly accurate wasn't particularly threatening early on. In fact both the Indian openers got their timing going but were unable to beat the ring of fielders on the off-side.
But early indications suggest that this is already a much better pitch to bat on than the one for the first ODI.If the openers can bide their time, India can certainly score much more than what they achieved on Friday.
Both the Indian openers were content on keeping the good balls away. While Rahane was able to keep the scoreboard ticking, Vijay found the runs much more hard to come by. To their credit, both Neville Madziva and Donald Tiripano kept the ball on and around the off-stump but were unable to force the batsmen into taking risks. Run-making should become easier here on.
Murali Vijay's steady innings ended attempting to heave a full delivery to the leg-side, an IPL shot really. He ended up getting more height than distance and substitute fielder M Waller completed the catch after a juggle. End of a good innings from Vijay. Could have gone on to make it a big one.
Here's Manoj Tiwary. He's another batsman who needs a good knock under his belt.
Ambati Rayudu and Manoj Tiwary kept the scoreboard ticking following the loss of Murali Vijay. Both the batsmen cashed in on Hamilton Masakadza's dibbly-dobblies to milk 14 runs of an over. However, Rayudu also survived a dropped chance when Brian Vitori dropped a fairly straight forward chance at long-on. Rayudu was on 26 then. Let's see how much he goes on to get!
India 194-2 at the end of 40 overs. Remember: Five fielders will now be allowed to field outside the circle for the final 10 overs. India will be looking to get as close to 300 as possible, A dew wickets cans still set them back here.
Having scored no boundaries for five overs, Ambati Rayudu attempted a slog-sweep off Sikandar Raza and was caught on the deep mid-wicket fence for a solid 41. In the next over, Tiripano had Manoj Tiwary caught at short-fine when the Bengal batsman attempted to help a delivery off his pads. Zimbabwe have done superbly to keep India's scoring under check and India run the risk of ending with a total smaller than originally anticipated. Over to Binny and Uthappa, the Karnataka boys!
Robin Uthappa became the latest Indian batsman to fall as Zimbabwe continued to chip away with the wickets. Madziva bowled the perfect yorker and Robin was late in getting his bat down and had to see his off-stump flattened. This has been an admirable comeback from the hosts. It looked like India would get close to 300 but have been restricted thanks to very disciplined death bowling.
The late burst never really came for India. Stuart Binny scored a 16-ball 25 but once he fell to Brian Vitori, India kept losing wickets and ended with 271 for 8. After the 112-run opening stand it looked like India would get closer to the 300-run mark but credit to the Zimbabwean bowlers, especially Neville Madziva whose 4 for 49 ensured India never got the final push they dearly sought. 271 is still a competitve toal and having defended 255 a couple of days back, Rahane and Co. will be hopeful of doing it once again and seal the series win.
Elton Chigumbura will need people to bat around him in partnerships if Zimbabwe are to chase this. Chase in just a bit.
Dhawal Kulkarni was taken for three fours in his second over by Chamu Chibhabha as Zimbabwe made a brisk start to their chase of 271. Chibhabha pounced seeing Kulkarni struggle with his lines. The Mumbai pacer however came back strongly in the next over and dismissed Chibhabha's opening partner Vusi Sibanda with a full delivery and had him caught at backward point.
Bhuvneshwar continued to build the pressure on the batsman with his probing outside the off-stump line and was rewarded with the big wicket of Masakadza when the Zimbabwean poked at one and offered a simple catch to Uthappa behind the stumps.
Elton Chigumbura, the centurion from the first ODI, was consumed by a peach of a catch from Ajinkya Rahane in fly slip. Bhuvneshwar, once again, induced a tentative poke from the skipper and Rahane, at slip, flew to his right, and held on to a tough chance. Super stuff!
Chamu Chibhaba completed a fine half-century to keep Zimbabwe in the hunt. Following his assault on Dhawal Kulkarni early in the chase, Chibhabha has been largely circumspect with Zimbabwe losing wickets at regular intervals at the other end. Sean Williams was given two reprieves but was but failed to capitalize and was out bowled to Axar Patel.
Zimbabwe will want Chibhabha to make this a big century and have Sikandar Raza bat with him in a 100+ stand to stand a chance of winning this.
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Harbhajan Singh should have had Sean Williams atleast twice. Except, his teammates weren't too keen on getting the southpaw out. Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary failed to call for a skier and conspired to drop one before Murali Vijay dropped a dolly at slip. Williams and Chibhabha have added 45 runs.
Chibhabha and Raza shared a brisk stand and threatened to make a match out of it when the former was involved in a needless run-out. Raza played one on to the legside and his partner Chibhabha responded instantly only to be sent back and Ajinkya Rahane got a direct hit to catch him short. The Zimbabwean opener made 72.
Almost immediately, Sikandar Raza was dismissed by a sharp catch behind the stumps by Robin Uthappa to leave ZImbabwe in all kinds of trouble.
Richmond Mutumbami and Cremer shared a patient 50-run partnership for the seventh wicket as Zimbabwe delayed the inevitable. India moved firmly in control of the game with the wickets of Raza and Chibhabha but both Mutumbami and Cremer continued to frustrate the Indians as edges repeatedly evading the fielders in the ring.
Mutumbami, Madiva and Cremer were dismissed in the space of three overs as India put themselves within 1 wicket of a series win. Mutumbami mistimed a length delivery from Binny to longoff before Ajinkya Rahane effected another run-out to catch bowling-hero Madziva short of his crease. Rahane then completed another fine catch to send back Cremer and got Zimbabwe nine-down.
A straightforward victory for the Indians and they have won the series 2-0 with a match in hand. Zimbabwe never got going in the chase, losing Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura in quick succession. The back was well and truly broken. A mix-up cost Chibhabha his wicket, for 70 and the rest of the chase petered out. There were several positives for India. Bhuvneshwar was his tidy stuff while the spin twins - Harbhajan Singh and Axar Patel - showed exemplary control and guile during their spells. The hosts eventually ended at 209, losing by 62 runs. This was India's 447th ODI win, putting them on par with Pakistan - and only behind Australia.
© Cricbuzz
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