Chennai: Bruised and battered by the rampaging South Africans in their opening Super Eight fixture of the T20 World Cup, Team India had no option but to turn it around in quick time.
In redemption phase 1, the men in blue toyed with giantkillers Zimbabwe at M A Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday to win by 72 runs.
But that is only part of the job done. Pre-tournament favourites India will have to beat the West Indies on Sunday to seal a berth in the semifinals.
Both India and the West Indies, who were outplayed by South Africa earlier on Thursday, have 2 points. Hence the clash at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will be a virtual quarterfinal knockout contest.
India’s massive win against Zimbabwe was headlined by a power-packed batting performance. Abhishek Sharma returned to form with a 30-ball 55, Hardik Pandya hit an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls and Tilak Varma smashed 44 not out off 16 balls.
Significantly, all six Indian batters achieved strike rates of 150-plus as the team piled up 256/4, their highest ever T20 World Cup total.
It was too high a mountain to climb for Zimbabwe, who had topped the preliminary group by eliminating powerhouse Australia and also beaten co-hosts Sri Lanka earlier.
Opener Brian Bennett did well to stay unbeaten on 97 (59 balls, 8×4, 6×6), but Indian bowlers were always in control.
Arshdeep Singh finished with 3/21 in four overs as Zimbabwe ended on 184/6.
BRIEF SCORES
India 256/4 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50*, Tilak Varma 44*, Ishan Kishan 38; Suryakumar Yadav 33).
Zimbabwe 184/6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 97*; Arshdeep Singh 3/24).
Result: India won by 72 runs.
Player of the Match: Hardik Pandya.
Next matches in Group 1: South Africa vs Zimbabwe (March 1, Delhi, 3 pm); India vs West Indies (March 1, Kolkata, 7 pm).
