Abhishek regains form in their 72-run win over Zimbabwe
Chennai: Abhishek Sharma rediscovered form with a blazing half-century while Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma provided the late flourish as India thrashed Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a must-win Super Eight clash to stay alive in the T20 World Cup here on Thursday.
Electing to bat, India piled up 256 for four — their highest total in T20 World Cup history and the highest of this edition. The win also confirmed South Africa’s semifinal berth from Group 1, leaving India and the West Indies to fight it out in a virtual knockout in Kolkata on March 1.
Abhishek (55 off 30) shrugged off a lean patch to anchor the innings, adding 48 runs with Sanju Samson (24) and 72 with Ishan Kishan (38) to lay a solid platform. India raced to 80 for one in the Powerplay and reached 100 in 9.1 overs before accelerating further.
Pandya (50 not out off 23) and Tilak (44 not out off 16) then unleashed in the death overs, stitching an unbroken 84-run stand for the fifth wicket as India plundered 80 runs in the final five overs.
In reply, Zimbabwe managed 184 for six despite Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97 off 59 balls. Arshdeep Singh (3/24) led a disciplined bowling effort to seal a comprehensive victory and revive India’s semifinal hopes.
