Zimbabwe's Chigumbura punishes India

18 Jun, 2016

HARARE: Elton Chigumbura shook stuttering Zimbabwe out of their slumber as he slammed seven sixes in an unbeaten 54 in the first Twenty20 international against India in Harare on Saturday.

Chigumbura came into the game on the back of two golden ducks in the one-day series, which India won 3-0, but rediscovered his hard-hitting ability to guide the hosts to 170 for six after they had been asked to bat first by India.

Zimbabwe's batting was dismal in the ODIs, when they failed to score more than 168, but on Saturday they appeared to rediscover their joy for the game.

Hamilton Masakadza provided a positive start at the top of the order with 25 from 15 balls, while Malcolm Waller took the game to India through the middle of the innings with his 30.

Another Zimbabwe collapse looked to be on the cards when Waller failed to pick Yuzvendra Chahal's googly and Sikandar Raza Butt was run out for 20.

But Chigumbura found form to spark fireworks at the end, as the all-rounder's six-laden innings took just 26 balls.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2016

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