India secured a first T20I series win under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy after a 90-run win over the host nation Zimbabwe in the second match at the Harare Sports Club on July 25. Chasing 220 runs, the Sikandar Raza-led team was dismissed for 129 for 7 in 17.5 overs, with only five batters entering the double-digit mark. Opener Brian Bennett looked impressive, with 32 runs in 19 balls at a strike rate of 168.42.

He struck 3 boundaries and 3 sixes. Ben Curran once again disappointed with the bat, amassing 1 run off 5 deliveries. Dion Myers (12 off 9) and Ryan Burl (20 off 18) were in the middle for a long time but couldn’t convert their starts into big knocks.

Zimbabwe’s chances ended when the Indian bowlers easily undid Sikandar Raza (0) and Wessly Madhevere (2).

Tadiwanashe Marumani tried his best, but he only managed 24 runs off 18 balls. Brad Evans hit two sixes and 1 four in an 11-ball 19, but he too failed to make an impact.

For India, Abhishek Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets from his 2.5 overs.

Debutant Yash Thakur and Prince Yadav claimed two wickets each while Ravi Bishnoi, Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma got rid of 1 batter each.

Earlier, Indian batters had a good day at the office after being invited to bat first by Sikandar.

Abhishek Sharma’s lean patch continued with the southpaw scoring 8 runs off 8 balls. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faced just 9 deliveries to amass 20 runs, laced with 3 boundaries and 1 maximum.

The real push came from wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan, who played a match-winning knock.

Captain Shreyas struck 4 boundaries to add a 20-ball 25 to the total. Tilak Varma finally returned to his best, taking just 29 deliveries to reach 60 not out, packed with 5 fours and 3 sixes.

Rinku Singh (12 off 8) and Shivam Dube (6* off 3) took the score to 219 for 5 in 20 overs.

Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Evans, Newman Nyamhuri and Bennett claimed one scalp each for Zimbabwe.