India smashed the second-highest score across all Men’s T20 World Cups – 256-4 – as they thumped Zimbabwe by 72 runs to stay in the hunt for a semi-final place.
Defeat in Chennai would have seen the co-hosts and title favourites eliminated, having begun their Super 8s campaign with a heavy loss to South Africa over the weekend.
However, India bounced back emphatically from that poor result to set up a winner-takes-all showdown with West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday (1.30pm UK) for the second qualification spot from Group 1.
Zimbabwe, now out of semi-final contention after two defeats from two, replied to India’s massive total with 184-6 as Brian Bennett struck 97 not out and India left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh bagged 3-24.
South Africa’s nine-wicket drubbing of West Indies earlier in the day, coupled with India’s victory over Zimbabwe, guaranteed the Proteas a place in the knockouts.
Image: Ahbishek Sharma fired for the first time in the tournament, making 55 from 30 balls
India thump boundaries after being put in to bat
India cracked 17 sixes and as many fours after being inserted by Zimbabwe
Abhishek Sharma (55 off 30 balls) top scored as he played his first knock of note in the tournament after three ducks to start and then an innings of 15 against South Africa.
India’s top six batters all contributed, though, including Hardik Pandya (50no off 23), skipper Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 13) – who was dropped on eight by Blessing Muzarabani at deep backward square – and Tilak Varma (44no off 16).
Abhishek and Sanju Samson (24 off 15) slammed 48 off 23 for the first wicket, while Ishan Kishan (38 off 24) and Abhishek plundered 72 off 42 for the second before the innings ended with an unbroken alliance of 84 from 31 between Hardik and Tilak.
Image: Brian Bennett struck six sixes and eight fours in his 97 not out for Zimbabwe
Bennett then struck six sixes and eight fours for Zimbabwe, putting on 72 off 42 deliveries with captain Sikandar Raza (31 off 21) for the third wicket, before Raza holed out off Arshdeep at long-on.
Zimbabwe will now look for their first win of the Super 8s when they take on South Africa in Delhi on Sunday.
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