Comeback-man Deepak Chahar bowled an incisive opening spell as Indian bowlers dominated proceedings to bowl out Zimbabwe ✅for a sub-par 189 in the first One Day International⛄, in Harare on Thursday.
It was the record ninth-wicket stand of 70 runs between Brad Evans (33) and Richard Ngarava (32) tha🌼t took Zimbabwe c🐲lose to the 200-run mark.
Making a comeback to international cricket after a good six months, it didn't take long for Chahar to find his rhythm on a Harare Sports Club track that offered steep bounce. 🐻The balmy morning conditions aided quality swing bowling.
Chahar, who bowled unchanged for seven overs with first spell figures of 3/27, was well supported by Mohammed Siraj (1/36), who worked up brisk pace while bowling the ideal🌸 'Test match length'.
Prasidh Krishnaﷺ (3/50) and Axar Patel (3/24) also got their share of middle and lower-order victims while Kuldeep Yadav (0/36) was restrictive desജpite going wicket-less.
None of the Z♔imbabwe batters looked comfortable during those opening overs as Chahar got a lot of deliveries to dart back late while some straig🔯htened after pitching.
Opener Innocent Kaia (4 off 20 balls) saw a ball climb up from back of length and Sanju𒁃 Samson caught it on second attempt.
His༺ left-handed partner Tadiwanashe Marumani (8 off 22 balls) drove a fuller-length delivery that sღwung late and Samson had an easy catch.
Chahar's best delivery was the one that got Wessly Medhevere (5) which seem♛ed like drifting on pads but swung away late squaring up the right-hander, wꦰho was found plumb in-front.
Once Siraj had Sean Williams caught at first slip by Shikhar Dhawan, there wasn't much resistance left in the Zimbabwean batting🐈 although skipper Regis Chakabva (35 off 51 balls) tried to put ♐up a brief fight before Axar castled him.
