Opener KL Rahul became the first Indian to hit a century on one-day global debut as he secured a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first ODI at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
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A solid batting effort complemented a fine performance by the bowlers as India sealed an eight-wicket win in just 26.5 overs in the second One-Day International against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Monday (June 13).
With the target hardly posing any challenge, last match’s centurion KL Rahul (33) added 58 runs in company of Karun Nair (39 off 68 balls) for the opening stand. Rayudu, at the other end, finished on an unbeaten 62. Manish Pandey, coming in at No. 4, has faced just one ball.
After losing the toss on an overcast morning, Zimbabwe made a promising start thanks to Vusi Sibanda’s half-century before collapsing to 126 all out in 34.3 overs.
India spinners’ economy rate in this match; Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel conceded a combined 53 runs in 20 overs.
The most experienced player for the hosts, top-scored with 65-ball 41 in the opening game but he will have to stay on the crease longer if Zimbabwe have to post a decent total on board.
The teams will now lock horns in the inconsequential third ODI on Wednesday before the three-match Twenty20 series at the same venue.
The hosts suffered a nine-wicket loss to the youthful India side in the first match of the series on Saturday. After the early wicket of Nair, it looked that Zimbabwe can make a fightback but their mediocre bowling attack allowed the duo of Rahul and Rayudu to take their time and build their innings.
Opener Peter J Moor, who was partnering Chamu Chibhabha, was heading back to the pavilion in no time after being undone by Barinder Sran’s swing that trapped him in front of middle stump, out leg before wicket for just three runs in the second over.
Zimbabwe’s cause was not helped by the fact that Sean Williams, who was drafted in as a replacement for the injured Craig Ervine, took a blow to the finger during the warm-ups and was unable to bat. “It’s a matter of making sure that we find a balance of how everybody fits in and how we want to play”.
While Rahul has already scored two centuries in five Tests, this is his first tour with the limited overs side and he made an immediate mark.
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Chigumbura was lucky not to follow immediately after he was caught by Patel at deep mid-wicket in the next over, but the bowler Bhumra overstepped in the 48th over. There have been only seven other instances when India’s spinners have returned a better economy rate in an ODI in which they have bowled at least 120 balls.
