Abhishek Sharma’s first T20 ton helps India beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs to draw level in 5-game series

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Abhishek Sharma scored his first Twenty20 century as India crushed Zimbabwe by 100 runs in the second T20 on Sunday to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Sharma put behind him his nightmare T20I debut on Saturday — a four-ball duck — as he smashed eight sixes and seven fours before he fell to Wellington Masakadza for 100 off 47 balls.

Zimbabwe had stunned newly crowned T20 world champion India in the series opener, winning by 13 runs.

Ruturaj Gaikwad finished Sunday with an undefeated 77 off 47 balls, while Rinku Singh smashed a 22-ball 48 not out as India turned around its poor batting display in the first T20 to finish with 234-2 after choosing to bat first.

In reply, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 134 runs in 18.4 overs. Pacers Avesh Khan (3-15) and Mukesh Kumar (3-37) shared six wickets, while wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi took 2-11 in four overs.

India skipper Shubman Gill (2) was caught off Blessing Muzarabani. India could have been two wickets down but Muzarabani dropped Gaikwad early.

It was one-way traffic as Sharma took charge. He put on 137 runs off 76 balls for the second wicket with Gaikwad.

RELATED COVERAGE

Cummins to miss Australia’s limited-overs cricket tour to England and Scotland

India beats Zimbabwe by 42 runs in fifth T20 to win series 4-1

Jaiswal’s unbeaten 93 helps India claim T20 series against Zimbabwe

Sharma reached 50 off 33 balls, and then accelerated by reaching his hundred off a total of 46 balls before his dismissal. He scored his second 50 off only 13 deliveries, reaching his century in style with three straight sixes off Masakadza in the 14th over.

Sharma was caught immediately after. Singh joined Gaikwad, with the undefeated pair adding another 87 off the last 36 balls.

“The defeat yesterday wasn’t easy for us. I felt today was my day and I made it count,” Sharma said. “As a youngster, you always want to express yourself. I always believe in my ability.”

Gaikwad – who scored seven in the first T20 – reached 50 off 38 balls. He hit 11 fours and a six overall.

Singh, who wasn’t part of India’s T20 World Cup winning squad, smacked five sixes and two fours. India hit 14 sixes in all.

Zimbabwe’s reply was built on Wessly Madhevere’s 43 runs off 39, and he put on 36 off 15 with Brian Bennett, whose nine-ball 26 included three sixes.

Kumar got the breakthrough, adding Bennett to his early dismissal of Innocent Kaia (4).

Avesh Khan got into the act, striking twice against the middle order, as Zimbabwe was down to 46-4 in four overs.

Madhevere hung on until late, keeping one end together, but got little support elsewhere apart from a late charge of 33 from Luke Jongwe.

It was never going to be enough facing a tall chase as Zimbabwe equaled its highest T20 margin of defeat (by runs) – 100 versus Australia in Zimbabwe in 2018.

The third T20 is on Wednesday.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket