Zimbabwe kept India to a par total of 167 despite a half-century from Sanju Samson  and they took the upper hand in the chase after a strong powerplay. However, Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube  hit back with the ball to sniff out any chance of a Zimbabwe victory, and India sealed a 42-run win to complete a splendid series turnaround in Harare after losing the opening fixture of the series.

Sunday’s victory was India’s fourth win in a row, all completed in comfortable fashion.

After Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss for the first time all series, he sent India in. Yashasvi Jaiswal began with two sixes off the firstbani  two balls of the match, including one off a Raza no-ball, but the opener could not maximise his start, and was bowled in the first over itself.

That brought in Abhishek Sharma, but his stay was brief too, Blessing Muzar getting him caught behind with a length ball angling across him. Shubman Gill followed Abhishek to the hut when a Richard Ngarava short ball got big on him, and he sliced a mis-hit to mid-on.

The three top-order wickets left India at 44 for 3 after the powerplay and forced a rebuild from No. 4 Samson – he was pushed up in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence – and No. 5 Riyan Parag, who was batting for the second time this series. They batted together for 56 balls, and even though they added only 65 for the fourth wicket, they ensured India arrested a potential collapse. Parag made a 24-ball 22 and was out to legspinner Brandon Mavuta when he tried to up the scoring rate.

Samson, though, made full use of the time he took to get going. At one stage he was on 17 off 18 balls, but when Mavuta bowled in his arc, he capitalised to up the scoring rate. Samson struck four sixes in all, and just the lone four, and when he fell in the deep in the 18th over trying to take Muzarabani on, he was out for a 45-ball 58.

With 15 balls to go and India at 135 for 3, the base was set for an aggressive finish. Dube ruined Ngarava’s economy rate by smacking him for 4, 6, 4 in the 19th over in his 12-ball cameo of 26, and Rinku Singh hit a six in the 20th to ensure India finished above 160. Muzarabani picked up 2 for 19 in his four overs, and was the best of the five bowlers used by Zimbabwe.

Back in the XI for the final game of the series, Mukesh continued his habit of striking early, taking his third first-over wicket in three outings. This time, Wessly Madhevere was the victim, chopping on off a ball that moved into the right-hand batter sharply to fall for a duck.

Mukesh added a second when he tempted Brian Bennett (10) to play over the off side with a full ball swinging away, but the No. 3 could only slice to deep backward point, leaving the hosts 15 for 2 in the third over.

Mukesh could have had a third, pegging back Tadiwanashe Marumani’s stumps after a tidy spell to the left-hander from around the wicket, but he had overstepped, and it briefly looked like an expensive mistake as Marumani and No. 4 Dion Myers (34) attacked seamer Tushar Deshpande and wristspinner Ravi Bishnoi.

They went particularly hard against Bishnoi, a player Zimbabwe have struggled against all series, and the wristspinner began with a 16-run sixth over that took Zimbabwe to 47 for 2.

Washington took the ball after the powerplay, and struck in his second over from around the wicket to Marumani, who was lbw trying to slog across the line. That dismissal forced a slowdown, allowing India to drag the game back into their favour with Bishnoi and Washington controlling proceedings.

Dube eventually finished with 2 for 25, while Abhishek and Deshpande also picked up a wicket apiece with the game going out of Zimbabwe’s grasp. Faraz Akram (27 off 13) entertained the home crowd with two fours and two sixes late in the innings before being caught behind off Mukesh in the 19th over. No. 11 Ngarava then had no answer to a full, fast delivery, and Mukesh finished with his best T20I figures – 4 for 22.

Dube was adjudged Player of the Match for his 12-ball 26 and 2 for 25. Washington claimed the Player-of-the-Series trophy for his eight wickets at an average of 11.62 and an economy rate of 5.16.

Brief scores;

India 167 for 6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 58, Shivam Dube 26, Ryan Parag 22; Sikandar Raza 1-37,  Richard Ngarava 1-29, Blessing Muzarabani 2-19, Brandon Mavuta 1-39) beat  Zimbabwe 125 in 18.3 overs  (Dion Myers 34, Tadiwanashe Marumani 27,  Faeaz Akram 27;  Mukesh Kumar 4-22, Shivam Dube 2-25, Tushar Deshpande 1-25, Washington Sundar 1-07, Abhishek Sharma 1-20) by 42 runs