Chawla bowls India A to big win
Zimbabwe were dismissed for 216 in the second innings, leaving India with a target of 65, which they rattled off for the loss of just one wicket
Cricinfo staff
28-Jul-2007
India A 489 (Uthappa 88, Patel 67, Sharma 66) and 69 for 1 beat Zimbabwe Select 338 (Taibu 123, Utseya 53, Chawla 4-40) and 216 (Sibanda 69, Taibu 40) by 9 wickets
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India A cruised to a nine-wicket win against Zimbabwe Select on the
final day of the opening four-day match at Harare Sports Club. Zimbabwe were dismissed for 216 in the second innings, leaving India with a target of 65, which they rattled off for the loss of just one wicket.
The equation was simple at the start of the day: Zimbabwe needed to bat out the entire day to force a draw. Resuming on 15 for 1, Zimbabwe lost Hamilton Masakadza early but rallied through a 108-run partnership between Vusi Sibanda (69) and Tatenda Taibu (40) before Piyush Chawla got into the act.
He grabbed four wickets that included Sibanda, Taibu, and Elton Chigumbura (30) to propel India towards victory. Irfan Pathan, who opened in the second innings, hit a breezy 30-ball 39 to take India home.
"We started very well in the morning with Sibanda and Taibu getting quick runs but everything crumbled once Taibu fell," Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman Blessing Maulgue told VOA. "The experienced guys need to pull up the socks. Only Taibu performed in the first innings. The guys like Masakadza, Sibanda and Chigumbura need to perform consistently and our batsman have to give something for our bowlers to defend."
The two sides will meet in the second and final four-day game at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo starting on Tuesday.
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