Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 50 off 19 balls as India beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the opening T20I at Harare Sports Club on Thursday. India reached the target of 126 in 13.2 overs after Zimbabwe posted 125 for seven.
India captain Shreyas Iyer praised the 15-year-old batter’s approach after securing his first victory as India’s T20I captain. “He is fearless, the way he approaches the innings is amazing. He possesses immense confidence when he steps onto the field,” Iyer said, according to a Times of India report.
Sooryavanshi reaches fifty in 18 balls
Sooryavanshi completed his maiden international half-century from 18 deliveries and was dismissed by Richard Ngarava one ball later. Sooryavanshi’s innings included four boundaries and four sixes.
Sooryavanshi also became the youngest player to score a fifty in men’s international cricket, passing the record previously held by Nepal batter Kushal Malla. Ishan Kishan made 35, while Iyer finished unbeaten on 28 to complete India’s chase.
Supplemental editorial cricket visual for Sooryavanshi's 19-ball fifty drives India past Zimbabwe.
Harare innings follows a quiet England tour
Sooryavanshi’s innings in Harare followed scores of 14, 13 and 15 during India’s tour of England earlier in the month. India omitted Sooryavanshi from the final T20I and lost the series.
Supplemental editorial cricket visual for Sooryavanshi's 19-ball fifty drives India past Zimbabwe.
Harare Sports Club was also the venue where Sooryavanshi scored 175 from 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final earlier in the year.
India’s bowlers restrict Zimbabwe to 125 for seven
Mayank Yadav dismissed Brian Bennett with the first ball of the match after Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl. Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav finished with two wickets each as Zimbabwe reached 125 for seven.
Iyer said the expected bounce influenced India’s decision to bowl first. “I was anticipating the bounce and there was a decent amount of bounce. Exceptional start given by Mayank. Didn’t give them room,” Iyer said.
The result ended Iyer’s run of seven defeats in his first seven matches as India’s T20I captain across tours of Ireland and England. “Exceptional. They were tremendous in their execution. Can’t be more happier to get my first win,” Iyer said after the victory.
Related cricket reading on IPL Bet Online
- Joe Root becomes first England batter with six straight ODI fifty-plus scores
- Jai Moondra Takes Wicket With First Ball of Ireland T20I Career
- Shreyas Iyer backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi before Zimbabwe T20Is
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi buzz drives Ireland ticket demand before possible India debut
- Rohit Sharma Tested By Short Balls In Lucknow Nets Before Second ODI
- Ben Stokes Left Out, Joe Root To Lead England In Second New Zealand Test
- Parthiv Patel warns Vaibhav Sooryavanshi about England short-ball plan
- Sanju Samson left out as Ashok Sharma earns India call-up for Zimbabwe T20Is