Harare, June 13 (bdnews24.com/AFP) -- Skipper Suresh Raina led from the front with a blistering 72 as India signed off their Zimbabwe tour with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over the hosts in the second and final Twenty20 international on Sunday.
Chasing 141, India made 144 for three with Suresh Raina striking the winning runs and sweeping the two match T20 series 2-0. Raina's effort earned him the man of the match and the man of the series awards.
India lost the wicket of Naman Ojha early, but Vijay and captain Suresh Raina ensured that India would not face any difficulty. Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run stand for the second wicket, which set up the second comfortable win. Raina's 44-ball knock contained six fours and two sixes.
After an ordinary show in the three-week tour, Vijay finally got some runs under his belt and his performances today would give him a lot of confidence. His 46 was laced with some clean hits to the fence and he showed glimpses of his sublime best.
Vijay missed out on his half-century when he attempted a big shot off Chamu Chibhabha and his checked shot landed in the hands of Graeme Cremer.
Raina continued the good work and carried the team home just after losing Yusuf Pathan towards the close.
India's consecutive win, after a poor show in the ODI tri-series, will do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters as they head off for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, which starts in two days time.
Earlier, Zimbabwe lost the toss and Raina yet again invited the hosts to bat. The Indian pacers bowled a tight line and length and the Zimbabwe batsmen got off to a very slow start.
India conceded just 47 runs in the first 10 overs, including a mere five boundaries.
The next 10 overs, however, belonged to Zimbabwe as the spinners struggled to keep the run flow in check. Coventry and Chigumbura struck some lusty blows towards the end as Zimbabwe scored 66 runs in the last five overs. The slow bowlers could not weave the same magic they had created in the first Twenty20 and Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin leaked runs. Ashwin bled most runs as he ended up giving away 48 runs in his four overs.
Tatenda Taibu top-scored with 45 and shared a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket with Charles Coventry (28 off 13) as they steered Zimbabwe to 140 for five. This was a marked improvement with the bat from the previous day where they were bundled out for 111.
Before that stand opener Brendan Taylor played a patient 33-ball 27 to help the side overcome the early jolts of losing Hamilton Masakadza (2) and Chamu Chibhabha (7).
Indian pacers, especially Ashok Dinda, were exceptional and did a tremendous job. The Bengal medium fast bowler gave away just 15 runs in his four-over quota and took two wickets.
It was plain sailing after wards and India, on the back of Raina's knock, sealed a thumping win for India and garnered some momentum ahead of the Asia Cup.
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