India edges past Zimbabwe in three-run thriller to seal series

CRUCIAL KNOCK: India's Kedah Jadhav in action against Zimbabwe during their T20 match against Zimbabwe in Harare, Wednesday. (AP)

HARARE: Kedar Jadhav’s brisk half-century proved the difference as India just held off Zimbabwe in the third Twenty20 international at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday to clinch the series 2-1.
Vusi Sibanda stroked an attractive 28 on his return from injury and Zimbabwe’s middle order all chipped in, but the hosts still fell narrowly short as they finished on 135 for six to lose by three runs.
Earlier, after being put in to bat for the first time on the tour, India found themselves in early trouble at 27 for three before Jadhav’s 58 carried them to 138 for six.
Although Zimbabwe scored 170 as they won the first Twenty20 clash of the series, Wednesday’s pitch was slower and displayed variable bounce, suggesting India’ total could be defendable.
Opener KL Rahul got the Indian innings up and running when he took 16 off an early Tendai Chatara over, but Donald Tiripano hit back for the home side with the wicket of Mandeep Singh and a couple of parsimonious overs.
When Rahul was bowled by Neville Madziva and Manish Pandey was brilliantly run out by Elton Chigumbura, the pressure was on the tourists.
However Jadhav added 49 for the fourth wicket with Ambati Rayudu, who made 20, and went on to reach his fifty in just 38 balls.
Tiripano struck back at the death as he removed Jadhav and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to finish with impressive figures of 3 for 20 from four overs, but Axar Patel’s 20 not out from 11 balls gave India a strong finish.

India innings

KL Rahul b Madziva 22
M. Singh c Maruma b Tiripano 4
A. Rayudu c Chigumbura b Cremer 20
M. Pandey run out 0
K. Jadhav c Chigumbura b Tiripano 58
MS Dhoni b Tiripano 9
A. Patel not out 20
D. Kulkarni not out 1
Extras: 4
Total: (for 6 wkts, 20 overs) 138
Fall of wkts: 1-20, 2-27, 3-27, 4-76, 5-93, 6-122.
Bowling: Chatara 4-1-34-0, Tiripano 4-0-20-3, Madziva 4-0-32-1, Chibhabha 4-0-19-0, Cremer 4-0-32-1.

Zimbabwe innings:

C. Chibhabha c Chahal b Sran 5
H. Masakadza lbw Patel 15
V. Sibanda lbw Kulkarni 28
P. Moor c Mandeep Singh b Chahal 26
M. Waller c Bumrah b Kulkarni 10
E. Chigumbura c Chahal b Sran 16
T. Maruma not out 23
Extras: 12
Total: (for 6 wkts, 20 overs) 135
Fall of wkts: 1-17, 2-57, 3-60, 4-86, 5-104, 6-135.
Bowling: Sran 4-1-31-2, Kulkarni 4-0-23-2, Bumrah 4-0-23-0, Patel 4-0-18-1, Chahal 4-0-32-1.