On Wednesday (July 10), Shubman Gill-led India beat Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
The captain led from the front, scoring a fine fifty to help his side post a grand total of 182/4 while batting first. Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings for the team and shared a 67-run stand for the first wicket before the latter departed for 36.
The last match’s centurion Abhishek Sharma could not do much with the bat and was dismissed for just 10 runs before Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad steadied the ship with a 72-run stand. Gill played the role of second fiddle during the stand while Gaikwad led the charge with the bat, scoring 49 runs off just 28 balls. The partnership ended in the 18th over when Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Gill for 66 runs.
Shubman Gill on the win:
India continued to defend the total with the greatest of ease as Zimbabwe finished their innings at 159 for 6. The visitors started disastrously and were reeling at 39 for 5 at one stage before an unbeaten knock of 67 runs from Dion Myers helped them post a respectable total.
At the end of the match, Shubman Gill started by expressing his joy over the victory in the crucial match. He also said that the pitch was not easy to bat on as the surface had double pace. He also said that the collective effort of the players is a good sign for the team.
“We definitely feel very good, it was a crucial match for us, the way we started with the bat and the ball was good. The wicket was a bit double-paced, the odd ball was caught and it was not easy to hit the length balls, that’s what we discussed with our bowlers,” Gill said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“We know that if there is anything on the wicket, it will be more with the new ball, and as the ball gets older it is a bit easier to score. Everyone is contributing and that is a good sign,” he added.
The fourth T20I is scheduled to be played on Saturday (July 13). Team India will be looking to clinch the series by winning the penultimate match of the series. The momentum is on the side of the Men in Blue and they will be looking to make the most of it.