Zimbabwe v India, 3rd T20I: Zimbabwe Player Ratings

India held its nerve till the last over the match to beat the inspired Zimbabwe side by a narrow margin of 3 runs and clinch the series 2-1. After opting to bat first in the series for the first time, India could manage just 138/6 in 20 over with the help of Kedar Jadhav’s strokeful 58 and Axar Patel’s last over blitz. In reply, the hosts got off to a breezy start with Sibanda taking on the Indian bowlers. Peter Moor also played a significant knock as the hosts looked unwilling to give up. However, in the end, Indians somehow amanged to defend the total and escape with a narrow wn.

1. Chamu Chibhabha – 5/10:

Chamu Chibhabha has a mixed day today. Although he couldn’t pick any wicket, Chibhabha was very effective with the ball overall. The right arm medium pacer bowled a miserly spell of 0/19 and contributed greatly to helping his team restrict India for a small total.

2. Hamilton Masakadza – 2.5/10:

The misery for the Hamilton Masakadza extended by one match after he was yet again dismissed prematurely. The confidence looks to be diminishing after each passing day. All he could contribute to the chasing cause was 15 runs from 25 balls before getting trapped LBW by Axar Patel in the 9th over. Masakadza lost his wicket at the wrong time. With a counter-attacking Sibanda at the other end maintaining the run flow brilliantly, the Zimbabweans looked to be having the upper hand over the opposition. But, his departure dented the home side’s effort unnecessarily.

3. Peter Moor -5/10:

Peter Moor looked in-form yet again today. The right-hander was in an attacking mood and helped Zimbabwe stay in the hunt with his quick fire 21 balls 26 runs. His showdown with leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was an entertaining brief spectacle. After starting off slowly, Moor smashed 3 sixes off the leggie’s bowling and mad ethe match more interesting. However, his stay at the crease was short as he was dismissed by Chahal himself eventually.

4. Vusi Sibanda – 8.5/10:

Sibanda was the impact player for the home side. Coming into to bat at number three after the fall of Chibhabha, Sibanda did not take much time to get after the Indian bowlers. he began attacking without any second thoughts and looked very threatening during his highly entertaining 23 balls 8 runs stay at the crease. The impact of his presence was such that the game looked totally in favour the hosts for some while. Unfortunately, he could take his team past the finishing line as he lost his wicket in the 11th over of the match to Dhawal Kulkarni.

5. Timycen Maruma – 7.5/10: 

Maruma nearly got his team past the victory line with his last over heroics. The all-rounder came in to during a crunch situation in the 18th over. An over later, Zimbabwe needed 21 of the last over and the spotlight turned on him as he was on strike to face Sran. he started off brilliantly garnering a six and a boundary as Sran began losing his focus. Unfortunately,despite such good start to the over, he could not manage to get the remaining runs and help his team register a historic win. He ended with 23 off just 13 balls.

6. Malcolm Waller – 2.5/10:

Malcolm Waller was a complete disappointment today. He actually can be termed as the culprit for Zimbabwe’s loss today. Waller entered the game at a highly crucial situation. the game was hanging in a balance. the Indians were slowly clawing back into the game. Unfortunately, Waller was unable to add pressure on the opposition ad instead eased it off them by playing a slow 10 runs innings off 17 balls.

7. Elton Chigumbura – 5/10: 

It was Elton Chigumbura’s attacking half-century in the 1st T20i which scripted a wonderful win for the hosts. He had the opportunity today as well. But, unluckily he could not help his side out. He fought till the last over of the match but his efforts weren’t enough eventually.

 8. Graeme Cremer – 4/10:

Cremer was yet again very less effective. The skipper did some work with the ball but did not have any large impact on the opposition. He took 1/32  in his our over spell. His only success of the day came in the form of the dangerous Ambat Rayudu.

9. Neville Madziva:

Neville Madaziva (1/32) also failed to contain the Ndian batsman in the final over of the first innings. He gave away freebies to Axar Patel in the last over, conceding 16 runs off it to help India reach a slight comfortable opposition from being at a bothersome 118/6 at the end of the 19 over.

10. Donald Tiripano – 9/10:

Donald Tiripano was the hero with the ball for Zimbabwe today. The right arm medium pacer looked at his best today and finished his day with highly productive numbers of 3/20 in his four overs spell. His victims today included the likes of Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav and the dangerous MS Dhoni.

11. Tendai Chatara – 2.5/10:

Tendai Chatara would have left the ground after the first innings with a feeling that he could have done much better than his final figures of 0/34 runs. Chatara began with maiden against KL Rahul but soon lost his way and ended up conceding runs freely in his last three overs, finishing as the most expensive Zimbabwean bowler today.