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PERTH : Brimming with belief after humbling Australia's formidable one-day international side last month, Zimbabwe are back Down Under and determined to make the Super 12 stage at the Twenty20 World Cup for the first time.
Zimbabwe announced their 15-member squad for ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Thursday, with captain Craig Ervine returning from injury to lead the side. Pace spearhead Blessing Muzarabani also makes the 15-member group after staying away from the action in the recently-concluded Australia tour.
Zimbabwe stunned a nearly full-strength Australia in the third and final ODI in Townsville on Saturday. After putting Australia in to bat, Zimbabwe made the most of the conditions to bowl Australia out for the first time in ODIs. This was also Zimbabwe's first win over Australia Down Under. The win boosted their chances to climb the ODI Super League ladder, which goes towards qualification for next year's 50-over World Cup in India. After the match, wild celebrations broke inside the Zimbabwe team bus.
Shubman Gill could do no wrong on Monday. The 22-year-old opener smacked 130 off 97 balls, hitting 15 fours and a six, to help India reach 289/8 in 50 overs. It was the youngster's first international ton at the senior level. The breakthrough century for Gill came less than a month after he came agonisingly close, scoring an unbeaten 98 against the West Indies in Port of Spain. He shared a 140-run third-wicket partnership with Ishan Kishan, who reached his half-century before being run out by Tony Munyonga.
It was memorable evening for the KL Rahul-led Indian cricket team as it defeated Zimbabwe by 13 runs in the third ODI to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Sikandar Raza scored a heroic ton to give India a mighty scare in Harare, but ultimately the visitors prevailed. With most of the senior players being rested, the series was all the more special for the lot. Earlier, Shubman Gill made his first international century. Gill not only wreaked havoc with the bat, he also caught Zimbabwe centurion Sikandar Raza, who was threatening to give the home side a shock victory.
Sikandar Raza's lion-hearted effort took Zimbabwe on the cusp of a famous victory before India held their nerves to pull off a 13-run win in the third ODI and complete a series sweep in Harare on Monday. The final game of the series too was heading India's way until Raza (115 off 95 balls) brought Zimbabwe back into the contest with the support of Brad Evans (28 off 36). The duo shared a 104-run stand off 77 balls for the eighth wicket to raise hopes of a memorable result against their mighty opponents. However, Raza fell to a brilliant catch by Shubman Gill in the penultimate over, as India scraped through.
Shubman Gill made his first international hundred as India beat Zimbabwe by 13 runs after a tense finish in Harare on Monday to complete a 3-0 ODI whitewash.
Zimbabwe face their biggest challenge since Dave Houghton became coach two months ago when they host India in a series of three one-day internationals, starting on Thursday. Although several stars, including batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, are being rested ahead of the Asia Cup in the UAE this month, the tourists are expected to win all three matches in Harare. India are placed third behind leaders New Zealand and England in the ODI rankings, 10 places above Zimbabwe. Under the guidance of 64-year-old former batting star Houghton, the southern Africa nation have won nine of 11 ODI and Twenty20 internationals. With Houghton in charge, hosts Zimbabwe beat non-Test teams Jersey, Singapore, the United States, Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands to qualify for the 2022 T20 World Cup.