Gill's maiden ODI ton powers India to 289
Shubman Gill's lady ODI ton controlled India to 289 for 8 in the third and last ODI against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Monday (August 22). Gill, who struck 15 fours and a six in his 97-ball 130, likewise enlisted the most noteworthy individual ODI score by an Indian in Zimbabwe and was engaged with a 140-run third wicket stand with Ishan Kishan (50) to assist India with posting a difficult aggregate. Brad Evans (5-54) was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe, stowing his lady fifer.
Gill's appearance to the wrinkle was sandwiched between the excusals of the Indian openers however the 22 year old felt no strain, playing his shots with a great deal of certainty as he assisted India with gaining great headway. While Ishan Kishan had a careful beginning, Gill guaranteed customary limits, drawing out a collection of shots around the recreation area including stunning drives, strong scopes, cuts, a deft scoop and a look. While he got to fifty off 51 conveyances, Gill dashed to three figures as he got to his hundred off 81 conveyances.
Kishan was on 9 off 21 at one phase before he too began tracking down the wall, raising his second ODI fifty, off 61 balls. Yet, before Gill got to his hundred, Kishan was run out at the non-striker's end on the very ball that the No. 3 inspected to invert a leg-before choice, and was before long followed back to the cottage by Deepak Hooda who was bowled by Evans for 1.
Yet, as in the past, the excusals no affected Gill's batting as he proceeded with his showcase of great stroke-production. Gill even struck his initial six by pulling Evans while Sanju Samson hit two or three maximums off Luke Jongwe to control India past 250 in the 46th over prior to getting out to a similar bowler. Axar Patel had a short stay, flopping in his endeavor to hit Victor Nyauchi over lengthy off. Gill added to his count of limits before his excursion came in the last over when he tracked down the defender at long-off, while Shardul Thakur turned into Evans' fifth scalp as India completed 11 shy of the 300 imprint.
Prior, after KL Rahul won the throw once more and chose to bat first this time, Shikhar Dhawan got going with a whirlwind of limits, driving, cutting and flicking in the principal several overs. Rahul, however, had a calm beginning at the opposite end, taking as much time as necessary to settle down. In the mean time, the Zimbabwe bowlers, who were conflicting with their line and lengths toward the beginning, rushed to straighten out as they held the openers under wraps. Nyauchi bowled a lady to Dhawan, who likewise got a big chance when he was put down at point off Richard Ngarava.
India did without a limit for seven overs before Dhawan sloped one over the slip cordon for a four. Rahul filled in certainty as he invested energy at the wrinkle, driving a Nyauchi conveyance past cover point for three preceding playing a back-foot punch off Evans for his initial four. Rahul additionally pulled Evans for the initial six of the innings however was bowled for 30 before long, slashing on attempting to slice one excessively near the body, which finished the initial stand worth 63. Evans likewise excused Dhawan a brief time later, with the left-hander getting a main edge to cover to leave for 40, preceding Gill dominated and controlled India towards a decent aggregate.
Brief scores: India 289/8 in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 130, Ishan Kishan 50, Shikhar Dhawan 40; Brad Evans 5-54) vs Zimbabwe.