Sunday 12 July 2015 17:14, UK
Openers Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay laid the platform for India’s 62-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
The pair made 112 from exactly 26 overs, as India claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Vijay top-scored with 72 from 95 deliveries – which was his first half-century at ODI level – while Rahane weighed-in with 63 off 83.
But on a slow pitch, the tourists failed to capitalise on their great start by losing wickets at regular intervals and at the end of their 50 overs had made 271-8.
However, it was still more than enough to beat Zimbabwe who slipped to 43-3 from 11 overs and were never able to put India’s bowlers under pressure.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced a devastating opening spell for India taking the wickets of Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura in his opening spell and ended with figures of 4-33 from 10 overs.
Opener Chamu Chibhabha did his best to keep the interest going, making 72 from 100 balls, but was run out in the 32nd over by a direct hit from Rahane.
With the score on 130-5, Zimbabwe’s challenge quickly faded and they were unable to get as close as they did on Friday when they lost the first ODI by just four runs.
The final match of the series will be staged at the same venue on Tuesday, before the teams face each other again with a brace of Twenty20 games starting Friday.
