Axar Patel stars on debut as India beat Zimbabwe in T20
Friday 17 July 2015 16:54, UK
Axar Patel produced an impressive bowling performance on his debut to help India secure a 54-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 international at the Harare Sports Club.
The 21-year-old achieved figures of 3-17 from his four overs, including the key wicket of Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura.
India won the toss and elected to bat, setting the hosts a target of 178-5.
The top three batsmen of Ajinkya Rahane (33), Murali Vijay (34) and top-scorer Robin Uthappa (39 not out) ensured a fast start at a run-a-ball, though the tourists were later pegged back by Zimbabwe seamer Chris Mpofu, who finished with figures of 3-33.
In reply, the hosts lost their first wicket in the eighth over, but were always behind the run-rate as they battled on the slow wicket.
Opener Hamilton Masakadza top-scored with 28 from 24 balls, before he was dismissed by Patel.
When the left-armer got rid of Chigumbura later in the same over, the Zimbabwe innings faltered further and they ended up finishing on 124-7.
Harbhajan Singh, who returned to India’s Twenty20 side for the first time in almost three years, also excelled with the ball as he took 2-29 from his four overs.
The final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
