India Shattered Pakistan’s Big World Record After Series Win Over Zimbabwe: The KL Rahul-led Indian team took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-ODI series against Zimbabwe following their 5-wicket win on Saturday in Harare; they had registered an emphatic 10-wicket on Thursday in the first ODI.
With this thumping victory, India have now broken Pakistan’s world record – India now have 11 consecutive ODI wins at the Harare Sports Club, the most for any team in the world at a particular stadium. Pakistan had won 10 ODI games in a row at the Sharjah Cricket Ground in 1990. West Indies are third on the list with 9 wins on a trot at the Gabba, Brisbane, from 1992 to 2001.
This run of wins for India in Harare started in 2013; India won 3-0 in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and now have wrapped up a couple of more games. They would want to continue on this winning spree in the third ODI, slated to be played on Monday.
KL Rahul hailed his bowlers for another dominating show
Similar to the first ODI, the Indian bowlers were clinical with their performances. Similar to the first ODI, they were effective in utilizing the helpful conditions at the start of the game to down Zimbabwe with regular strikes, bowling them out for 161.
Shardul Thakur, who had replaced first ODI’s Man of the Match, Deepak Chahar, showed his worth and skillset with the ball, returning with a three-wicket haul, while the rest of the five bowlers – Siraj, Krishna, Kuldeep, Axar, Hooda – on show picked one wicket each, and two batters were run out.
“The bowlers came strong at us, a good challenge for us. We are here to play good cricket and win, every opportunity is an honour, so we want to go out there next time also to enjoy ourselves and put a good performance. Wherever we travel, we get good support from Indian fans, very thankful for their support,” stand-in skipper KL Rahul said.
Sanju Samson finally has his time in the sunlight at international level
But it was Sanju Samson who hogged the limelight with an entertaining, smartly paced knock of 43* runs from 39 balls; he smashed 4 sixes and 3 fours in his innings to further show the aggressive brand of cricket that the Indian management has asked for from their batters. And he even completed the chase with a six down the ground.
That’s that from the 2nd ODI.#TeamIndia win by 5 wickets and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Scorecard – https://t.co/RDdvga1BXI #ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/AeG4OsDPQO
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 20, 2022
Samson, who came in at number 6, was involved in a crucial partnership – 56 runs off 58 balls – with Deepak Hooda, who was slotted at number 5, after India were 97/4.
For his sharp wicket-keeping – he took three catches – and good batting effort, Sanju Samson was awarded his maiden Man of the Match award in ODI cricket.
“How much ever time you spend in the middle, it makes you feel good. Even more special to do it for the country. I did take three catches, but I missed a stumping. Really enjoying keeping and batting. I think they (Indian bowlers) were bowling really good areas, a lot of balls came nicely to me,” Samson said.
