India vs Zimbabwe, T20 World Cup, Super 12 Group 2 Highlights: India defeated Zimbabwe by 71 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash with England. Defending 186 for 5, India bundled out Zimbabwe for 115 runs in 17.2 overs as Ravichandran Ashwin starred with 3 wickets for 22 runs in his four overs. Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav scored 61 not out off 25 balls as India posted a big total of 186 for 5 against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Sean Williams was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe by returning figures of 2 for 9 in two overs. India skipper Rohit Sharma had won the toss and opted to bat first in the game.
Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Wesley Madhevere, Craig Ervine(c), Regis Chakabva(w), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Tony Munyonga, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani
Here are the Highlights of the T20 World Cup Match between India and Zimbabwe straight from Melbourne Cricket Ground
16:53 (IST)
India vs Zimbabwe: WICKET! India win!!!
Axar Patel gets the final wicket of Zimbabwe and India have won this game by 71 runs. The win helps them end at the top spot in Group 2 table and that means the side will be facing England in the second semi-final of the tournament at the Adelaide Oval on November 10. Save the date, guys!!!
That's the end of Sikandar Raza's innings. Hardik Pandya has got his wicket. It is the second wicket of the Indian all-rounder in this game. Raza falls for 34 off 24 after being caught out at deep while trying to play a pull shot.
Another wicket for Ashwin! He has got his third one of the game! It was a slower ball which bowled Ngarwa. India are only two wickets away from a win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Another wicket for Ravichandran Ashwin and Zimbabwe are seven down now. Wellinton Masakadza came down the track and wanted to work it on the leg side but he got a leading edge as Ashwin bowled a really slower ball. Rohit Sharma took an easy catch at cover.
Wow! This is some shot from Ryan Burl! It was a fuller ball on the stumps from Axar Patel and Ryan Burl reverse-swept it nonchalantly for a six. It looked effortless and smooth as the ball comfortably sailed over the backward point for a six.
Hardik Pandya gets better of Craig Erwine and this is the fourth instance in this innings that a bowler has got a wicket in his first over. Bhuvneshwar started with a wicket before Arshdeep and Shami followed him. Zimbabwe are four down now.
Another wicket for India and Zimbabwe are three down! Fuller ball outside off stump from Mohammed Shami and Sean Williams edged it to the third man fielder while looking to go for a big drive without even reaching to the ball properly.
Both the Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh struck early in the innings and dented Zimbabwe's hopes of a strong start. No wicket fell for the chasing team after the second over, but the bowling has been really tight from the Bhuvi-Arshdeep duo.
Zimbabwe have lost opener Wesley Madhevere on the very first ball of their chase. It was a good length ball outside off stump from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Madhevere played it to the right of cover fielder Virat Kohli, who took a 0really good catch diving to his right.
Suryakumar Yadav caps off the Indian innings with a six, his fourth of the innings. The batter returns to the dug out with an unbeaten 61 off 25 balls that also had six fours in it. What a knock that is from India's star batter SKY! Meanwhile, India have got a really good total on the board and this chase for Zimbabwe is going to be really tough.
Suryakumar Yadav has hit a fifty off 23 balls. Another blazing half-century it is from India's number four! He is surely batting on another planet these days or say years.
KL Rahul raced to his fifty in 34 balls. He reached there with a six but lost his wicket on the very next ball. Sikandar Raza claimed his wicket as Rahul failed failed to clear the long-off fielder Wellington Masakadza. India have lost two wickets in the span of four balls. A mini comeback for Zimbabwe!
India have scored 79 runs in the first 10 overs after losing only one wicket that is of Rohit Sharma. This is a good start for the side and it must look for a total near 200. This is the perfect opportunity for them to go all guns blazing and test their batting firepower before entering the semi-finals of the tournament.
KL Rahul took on Ryan Burl for a six and four in the 8th over and India managed to fetch a total of 14 runs in it. This is really good batting from Rahul. He has now shifted gears and is currently batting on 34 off 24 balls.
A short ball from Bleesing Muzarabani outside off stump and KL Rahul beautifully slashed it for a four towards the backward point region. It was too much width on offer but Rahul's shot was equally good.
Rohit Sharma has been trapped by Blessing Muzarabani. It was a short ball on which Rohit decided to go for a big one through pull but he mishit the ball directly into the hands of square leg fielder. India are one down.
KL Rahul got one in the slot from Richard Ngarava and smashed it a for a six into the crowd. Given left-arm pacer Ngarva came over the wicket for the delivery, the ball met beautifully with the bat before flying into the stands over sqaure leg fence.
Richard Ngarava bowled a maiden first over to KL Rahul. The Indian batter was once again too defensive in his approach and that saw the first over giving no run to India. Ngarava's balls also missed the outside edge of Rahul's bat and Zimbabwe would be happy with such a start.
India vs Zimbabwe: Play starts in minutes from now!
The national anthems are over. Both the Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are out their at the middle. The play starts in just few minutes from now. Don't go anywhere and stay connected for the live updates from the game.
India vs Zimbabwe: Rishabh Pant replaces Dinesh Karthik
India have decided to give Rishabh Pant a chance in this game. Dinesh Karthik has been rested to accomodate Pant in the playing XI. At the toss, Rohit Sharma said that Pant is the only guy who hasn't got a game, including the warm-up matches, hence the team management wanted to give him a chance.
India skipper Rohit Sharma has won the toss and opted to bat first vs Zimbabwe in their final game of the group stage. India would be needing a win out of it to end at the top spot in Group B of the Super 12 of T20 World Cup.
India skipper Rohit Sharma and his Zimbabwe counterpart Craig Erwine both are out at the middle for the toss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Stay connected, the toss takes place in just some seconds from now...
India vs Zimbabwe: What could be India's playing XI?
Given India have already qualified for the top 4, will they be looking to try any player from the bench in this game vs Zimbabwe? Will the team be tempted to drop Ravichandran Ashwin, who has looked off colour in the tournament, for Yuzvendra Chahal? Check out our predicted India XI CLICK HERE
South Africa's disappointing loss to Netherlands in their last league game today eliminated the former from the tournament, while the result also helped India seal a semi-final spot for themselves. India will now be aiming to confirm a top of the table finish with a win over Zimbabwe.
Hello everyone, welcome to the live blog of India vs Zimbabwe T20 World Cup match. India have already qualified for the semi-finals, but they would still be looking for a better finish at the group stage.