Chennai, Feb 26 (PTI) India stayed firmly on course for a big win over Zimbabwe to keep their Super Eights hopes alive in the T20 World Cup, here on Thursday.
At the end of 15 overs, Zimbabwe were 131/2 in pursuit of a stiff target of 257, still needing 126 runs from the final five overs..
Opener Brian Bennett was unbeaten on 78 from 48 balls (6×4, 5×6), bringing up his third fifty of this T20 World Cup, while Sikandar Raza was batting on 19 (14b; 1×4, 1×6).
Bennett smacked two sixes and two fours off Shivam Dube, who leaked 26 runs in a wayward 15th over that stretched to 10 deliveries.
Returning to the XI, Indian vice-captain Axar Patel struck in his opening over, dismissing Tadiwanashe Marumani who failed to make use of a reprieve by Rinku Singh in the previous over and got out for 20.
Varun Chakravarthy also got a breakthrough dismissing Dion Myers for 6.
Earlier, Abhishek Sharma was back at his explosive best with a 30-ball 55 (4×4, 4×6), while Hardik Pandya bludgeoned a 23-ball unbeaten fifty (2×4, 4×6) as India racked up 256/4 after Zimbabwe opted to bowl.
It was India’s highest total in T20 World Cup history and the highest ever recorded in this tournament. PTI TAP ATK
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