2nd T20 PIX: Gill, Sundar shine as India down Zimbabwe

Images from the third T20 International between Zimbabwe and India in Harare on Wednesday.

• Scorecard

Skipper Shubman Gill struck a sublime half-century, while off-spinner Washington Sundar returned with tidy figures of 3/15 as India outclassed Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20 International in Harare on Wednesday.

India, who were shocked in the series opener, have bounced with two wins in a row to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Electing to bat, India posted a huge 182/4 courtesy of Gill, who top-scored with 66 from 49 balls, while Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed a quickfire 49 from 28 balls.

In reply, Zimbabwe never challenged with the bat. Dion Myers hit his maiden half-century in T20 Internationals to rally Zimbabwe to 159/6. The hosts, who were reeling on 60/5 in 10 overs at the halfway mark, bounced back with 99 runs from the last 10 overs with Myers stroking 65 not out from 49 balls.

Washington Sundar, who is likely to play a bigger role in India's T20 set-up after the retirement of Ravindra Jadeja, struck thrice while Avesh Khan took a couple of wickets.

After Avesh Khan bounced out opener Wessly Madhevere in the second over, the wickets kept falling for the home team. However, Zimbabwe did well to stead the ship after losing their first five wickets for 39 runs. The 77-run stand off 57 balls between Myers and Clive Madande (37 off 26) put much needed life into the game. 

Earlier, stroke-filled innings from Gill, Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal powered India to 182/4 in their 20 overs.

Opting to bat on a fresh pitch, Gill-led India made some interesting selection calls. They duly brought in World Cup winners Jaiswal (36 off 27), Sanju Samson (12 not out off 7) and Shivam Dube into the playing eleven, leaving out the likes of Riyan Parag in the middle order.

Sanju came to bat at number five with four specialist openers Jaiswal, Gill (66 off 49), Abhishek Sharma (10 off 9) and Gaikwad (49 off 28) occupying the top four positions respectively.

Jaiswal, who did not get a game in India's triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup, was happy to be back in the middle and went for his shots from the get go. The southpaw collected couple of fours and a six over deep-midwicket in the opening over bowled by off-spinner Brian Bennett to set the tone.

Gill began with a gorgeous on drive off left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava before pulling him for a six over fine-leg. Zimbabwe were poor in the field to say the least, conceding extra runs and grassing regulation catches throughout the innings.

Pacer Blessing Muzarabani (2/25) once again got the extra bounce from length and was the pick of the bowlers.

After racing to 49 for no loss in four overs, India could not maintain that tempo reaching 55 in the powerplay with both openers in the centre.

Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who impressed again with the ball, got the breakthrough for his team as Jaiswal's reverse sweep went straight into the hands of the fielder at backward point. Last game's centurion Abhishek did not last long and was holed out in the deep off Raza.

Gaikwad, finding himself at an unusual batting position, was able to milk the spinners in the middle overs and ended with four boundaries and three sixes.