ZIM vs IND 2nd ODI: Sanju Samson, Thakur star as India win by 5 wickets

Sanju Samson produced a responsible unbeaten 43 after a clinical bowling display led by pacer Shardul Thakur as India sailed to a fivewicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI to take an unassailable 20 lead in the threematch series at Harare Sports Club on Saturday It was not quite a domination unlike the first ODI but the paltry 162run target meant that the KL Rahulled side did not have to sweat much despite a midinnings jolt Sent into bowl comeback man Thakur 338 in seven overs brilliantly set it up and became the wreckerinchief as the Indian bowlers once again came out on top to skittle out Zimbabwe for 161In the absence of Deepak Chahar who missed out after his exploits in the last ODI Thakur made his presence felt and rocked the Zimbabwe toporder with his double blow in the 12th overShikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill then showed their same flair and authority even as the duo batted in different positions this time posting identical scores of 33Also Read ZIM vs IND Team India skipper KL Rahul needs game timeBut the duo could not steer the team home this time as India endured some anxious moments in the middle following the departure of DhawanLuke Jongwe 233 produced a double blow dismissing Ishan Kishan 6 and a wellset Shubman Gill in successive overs to reduce India to 97 for four at the drinks breakBut with just 65 runs needed from 36 overs Deepak Hooda and Samson produced a sensible stand of 56run together to virtually seal the fate of the matchWith nine runs to win Hooda was yorked by Sikandar Raza but Samson remained unbeaten on 43 39 balls 2x4 4x6 and wrapped it up with a six off legspinner Innocent Kaia in the 26th overHaving posted a 192run unbroken stand in their previous win Dhawan and Gill did not open together this time with the skipper Rahul opting to go alongside the formerIn the first ODI Rahul who was returning to action after nearly three months following a sports hernia surgery and a bout of COVID chose to go with Dhawan and Gill as the two openersThe duo posted a 192run unbroken stand to fashion Indias 10wicket winBut Rahul got back to his usual slot on Saturday only to get out LBW by pacer Victor Nyauchi after missing the line of the ballThis was Rahuls first International match since his 49run outing against the West Indies in an ODI in Ahmedabad on February 9After Rahuls brief stay it was once again business as usual for Dhawan and Gill as the duo started from where they left in the first ODI here two days backEarlier Sean Williams played a counterattacking knock and topscored for the hosts with a runaball 42 1x6 3x4 after his side was reduced to 314 in the 13th overIndia brought in parttime offspinner Deepak Hooda to give the muchneeded breakthrough in the form of Williams who went for a premeditated pull to be taken at the deep square leg by Shikhar DhawanRyan Burl made a 47ball 39 with three boundaries and one six but he ran out of partners as Zimbabwe could not stage a comeback Their last three wickets fell in just eight balls that included the runouts of Victor Nyauchi and Tanaka ChivangaIt would have been worse for the hosts had India were not sloppy on the field as keeper Samson missed one stumping and dropped a difficult catch against Axar Patel while Kuldeep Yadav missed a sitter off his own bowlingMohammed Siraj 82161 and Prasidh Krishna 611281 troubled the struggling Zimbabwe toporder after KL Rahul opted to field which denied the batters some muchneeded practice ahead of the Asia CupBut the bowlers did not mind On a Harare SC surface with nice carry and bounce the duo worked up good pace swing and troubled the openers with some good length deliveries as the hosts managed just one run from the first three oversSiraj effected a breakthrough in the eighth over before Thakur and Krishna got into the act Sikander Raza and Wiliams put on a 40run partnership before Kuldeep struck Raza tried to attack but only managed to slice the ball for Ishan Kishan to complete a welljudged catch to trigger a collapse The third ODI is slated on August 22This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever