Sikandar Raza‘s magnificent century nearly outshined Shubman Gill‘s maiden ODI ton, but India managed to win the third and final ODI in Harare by 13 runs on Monday (August 22). With the thrilling win, the tourists also registered a clean sweep in the three-match leg, having won the previous two games by 10 and 5 wickets, respectively.
Batting first, the Men in Blue posted 289/8 on the board in their assigned 50 overs, thanks to a scintillating hundred by Shubman. The right-handed batter top-scored with 130 from 97 deliveries with the help of 16 boundaries, including a six. Apart from Shubman, Ishan Kishan also shined with the bat, hitting 50 off 61 balls.
In response, the match went down the wire where Zimbabwe almost gunned down the target. However, India held their nerves and managed to seal the victory in the final over with only three balls to spare.
Zimbabwe’s veteran batter Raza stayed till the 49th over but couldn’t take his team over the finish line.He scored 115 from 95 deliveries, including nine fours and three sixes. For India, pacer Avesh Khan picked up three wickets while conceding 66 runs in 9.3 overs.
Most consecutive ODI wins vs Zimbabwe:
- 30 – South Africa (2000-18)
- 22 – Australia (1983-04)
- 19 – Bangladesh (2014-19)
- 15 – Sri Lanka (2004-10)
- 15 – India (2013-22) *
“I was just trying to minimise my dot-ball percentage. I just tried to time the ball and not hit it hard. [On targeting bowlers] Raza and Evans were bowling well, and it was crucial to target the bowlers. The bat was pretty good, and that’s why I changed it after my fifty as I wanted to save it. Always special to get a hundred, I had made three nineties but wanted to get a century,” said Gill after the match.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
That’s that from the final ODI.
A close game, but it was #TeamIndia who win by 13 runs and take the series 3-0 #ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/3VavgKJNsS
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 22, 2022
🇮🇳 complete a 3-0 ODI whitewash of 🇿🇼 with a 13 run win in the final ODI#ZIMvIND | #KajariaODISeries | #VisitZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/IsVKypjMRF
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) August 22, 2022
A job well done. Congratulations team India on the clinical series win 👏🏽 🇮🇳
Also @SRazaB24 is a special player, gave the passionate Harare crowd lots to cheer @ZimCricketv 👌🏽🇿🇼 #ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/3AXaxoLzc1— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 22, 2022
Most consecutive ODI wins for India men against a team:
15* – vs ZIM in 2013-22
12 – vs BAN in 1998-04
11 – vs NZ in 1986-88#ZIMvIND— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) August 22, 2022
Clean sweep at Harare 🇮🇳#StatAttack: India’s margin of victories at the same venue since 2013. DOMINANCE! 🔥#ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/aSSXQWS6UW
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 22, 2022
India in the last 4 ODI series:
Beat WI by 3-0.
Beat ENG by 2-1.
Beat WI by 3-0.
Beat ZIM by 3-0.Continues the winning streak.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 22, 2022
🙌🏻🏏 PHEW! A thriller to finish off an excellent ODI series.
💪 Well fought, @ZimCricketv!
📸 Getty • #INDvZIM #ZIMvIND #TeamIndia #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/Jcs12wV2dF
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) August 22, 2022
India beat Zimbabwe in the third ODI to register a clean sweep.#ZIMvIND #ShubmanGill #SikandarRaza pic.twitter.com/G0hFb1Z4CX
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) August 22, 2022
What a way to end the series 🤯
Raza enthralled us all with a scintillating ton, but the #MenInBlue held their nerve to win by 1⃣3⃣ runs 💪🏼#ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/2wFc2HDNcN
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) August 22, 2022
India edge ahead in a thrilling final ODI and take the series against Zimbabwe 3-0!
Scorecard: https://t.co/NGDK5ZbSft pic.twitter.com/hGkJf9boI9
— ICC (@ICC) August 22, 2022
Zimbabwe got close but not close enough, India win by 13 runs and take the series 3-0#ZIMvIND
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) August 22, 2022
