India have hardly put a foot wrong in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and they will look to end the group stage on a flawless note when they take on Zimbabwe at Eden Park on Saturday. While MS Dhoni's team have made sure that they will finish as group toppers, an unbeaten six-game streak will be a further boost for the sub-continent side ahead of their quarter-final clash against Bangladesh in a few days time. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will be eager to make it a memorable farewell for Brendan Taylor, who will feature in his last international assignment before leaving on a three-year Kolpak deal with English county Nottinghamshire.
India vs Zimbabwe, 39th Match, Pool B - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
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Wins by 76 runs, 130 runs, nine wickets, four wickets and eight wickets have carried MS Dhoni's team into the knockouts on a wave of confidence and credibility and they will be eager to iron out any remaining creases before their knock-out fixture. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have not been able to come out on top in pressure situations, which has meant that their underwhelming campaign will end at Auckland.
Zimbabwe's captain at the World Cup, Elton Chigumbura, missed the last game against Ireland because of a grade three tear to the quadriceps muscle in his left leg and looks highly unlikely for this match. On Thursday, Chigumbura did not train hard with the team and was seen walking around Eden Park with the physiotherapist, and with Taylor coming to address the media in the customary pre-match press conference, all indications are that Chigumbura is not match ready.
India went through their paces at the practice ground adjacent to Eden Park on Friday, giving little indication of any changes to a winning unit. Dhoni is not generally a man to tinker needlessly, so it seems the likes of Stuart Binny, Ambati Rayudu and Axar Patel will continue to serve drinks.
No changes to India's winning squad. MS Dhoni prefered to have things going just as it is. They aren't taking this lightly.
An emotional moment for Brendan Taylor as well. He too says that there is no change in Zimbabwe's squad
Teams:
Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Chamu Chibhabha, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor(w/c), Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Solomon Mire, Regis Chakabva, Tinashe Panyangara, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tendai Chatara
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
India's pacers have been on the money yet again. Little swing on offer and both Shami and Yadav made the batsmen play around the off stump a lot. Eventually, Masakadza nicked one through to Dhoni, who took it near his ankles. Good start once again for India.
That Eden Park, Auckland has small boundaries is not anything new but still, the illusion that it creates while watching is quite astonishing. MS Dhoni and the two slips accompanying him seem to be standing more than halfway near the boundary. Not a fair indication of the pace of Shami and Umesh though. Both have been sharp and getting some swing but surely doesn't warrant the 'keeper standing almost near the boundary rope!
Shami gets his 13th wicket of World Cup 2015. Right on target again. Just around the off stump with a hint of movement away. Chibhabha takes the bait and the edge is pouched neatly at slip by Dhawan. That ball was travelling.
Enter Brendan Taylor. What a moment for Zimbabwe's best batsman in the last few years. Needs to pull them out of trouble, yet again. Some things never change.
Mohit Sharma had Solomon Mire nicking behind and now all three Indian pacers had a wicket apiece. Funnily enough Mohit Sharma hardly appealed. Dhoni threw the ball up in the air and Mire simply turned around and walked away. Almost nothing given away in the powerplay overs as well. India have been very good, once again.
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After a sedate and rather boring start, the game sprang to life in the 7th over. Panyangara had troubled both batsmen for a while as did Chatara from the other end. The openers survived for a while before Rohit got a leading edge to cover and Dhawan chopped one on. Two wickets in an over with just 21 on the board. India feeling some pressure now.
He has not even faced a ball in the innings yet but if you go simply by the crowd chants, you'd think he was on 99. 'Kohli, Kohlii' rang the chants all across the ground. Quite incredible and I stress, he was not even off the mark. He did that soon though with a lovely straight drive past the bowler and then a trademark flick through mid wicket.
Kohli and Rahane had helped calm a lot of nerves with a brisk fifty-run stand. Kohli was the dominant partner in the stand but Rahane looked well set as well before a misunderstanding caught Rahane short. The bat bouncing up as he dove cost him dear. India in a pot of bother now at 71/3. Zimbabwe pushing them really hard now.
It is a banana peel that India will be hoping to avoid. Virat Kohli looked good to guide them through in the chase but he was bowled round the legs by Raza for 38. India need 196 more and another wicket at this stage will make Zimbabwe firm favorites. Not looking very good for India at the moment.
The boundaries were drying up and Raina was looking fidgety for a while but the shackles were broken thanks to a couple of sixes. Raina got going against Sean Williams in the 30th over but there is still a lot of work to do. Dhoni and Raina have put on a good stand but these two will have to carry on much longer for India to get close.
Raina on 47. Goes for a sweep off Raza and gets a top edge. Hamilton Masakadza behind square on the onside had all the time to pouch it but simply spilled a sitter. Huge lifeline for India and Raina. If that was taken, Zimbabwe would have had India on the mat. Raina lives to fight on.
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Meanwhile our user, Rajat Pathak, has his views on the game. Here it is: Brendon Taylor displayed his talent today in a match ,expected by manyto have gone India's way. This 29 year old batsman had twoconsolidating partnerships on his way to a massive 138 off just 110balls including 15 fours and 5 sixes leading his side to a score of287, which nobody would have expected by Zimbabwe.Now all eyes on Dhoni's men to fightback after this patheticperformance by the top order batsmen.
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This game is alive and kicking. Good wake-up call for India as well ahead of the knockouts. Want your comment to be featured here? Send us your thoughts at [email protected].
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These two have done it so many times before. 100 partnership came off just 101 balls. India needed 96 from 63 balls at this stage. Lot of pressure just looking at the asking rate but both Dhoni and Raina appeared quite nonchalant. The only thing worrying them out there is their own calling while running between the wickets. Nerves of steel.
It is India who are chasing with the required rate over 7 an over. However, it is Zimbabwe who are feeling all the pressure at the moment. Boundaries are coming at will and the fielding is showing some cracks. Dhoni got his 57th ODI fifty as well. Highest 5th wicket partnership for India in World Cups as well. Remember, India have never successfully chased down a target over 277 in World Cups. Today might be the day. At the moment, all the momentum is with India.
A series of delicate glances and late cuts were interspersed with the odd big hit as Raina got to his ton. Fifth in ODIs overall and a very valuable one. He came in with India under a lot of pressure and saw them through that period quite superbly.
An unbeaten 196-run stand between Raina and Dhoni took India home quite comfortably in the end. Dhoni finished it off with a trademark six and India's winning streak in World Cups continued. They have finished the league stages unbeaten and will be pleased to have avoided the banana peel today. Brendan Taylor's last game for Zimbabwe has ended in another loss but he too will walk out with his head held high after a stupendous knock earlier in the day.
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