Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest to score a T20I half-century as India cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the opening T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
The visitors chased down a modest target of 126 in just 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. With the win, India ended its longest winless streak in T20Is after failing to win in the last seven matches.
After opting to bowl first, India produced a clinical bowling display to restrict Zimbabwe to 125/7 in 20 overs. The hosts suffered an immediate setback when Mayank Yadav struck with the very first ball of the match, dismissing Brian Bennett for a golden duck. Prince Yadav then removed Ben Curran before Mayank returned
to send back Dion Myers, leaving Zimbabwe reeling at 20/3. Captain Sikandar Raza's struggles continued as Shivam Dube dismissed him for just four runs.
Ryan Burl (26) and Wessly Madhevere attempted to rebuild the innings with a steady partnership, but Ravi Bishnoi broke the stand by dismissing Burl. Madhevere went on to top-score with 39 off 34 balls, while wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani remained unbeaten on 27 off 20 to help Zimbabwe cross the 120-run mark. For India, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav claimed two wickets each, while Bishnoi and Dube chipped in with one apiece.
India's chase got off to a cautious start as Abhishek Sharma fell for just one. However, that was the only joy Zimbabwe enjoyed. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unleashed a stunning counterattack, smashing 50 off just 19 balls, including four boundaries and four sixes. The 17-year-old reached his maiden T20I fifty in only 18 deliveries, becoming the youngest player to score an international half-century while also registering one of the fastest T20I fifties by an Indian.
Sooryavanshi shared a rapid 45-run stand with Ishan Kishan before falling to Richard Ngarava. Kishan continued the momentum with a fluent 35 off 24 balls, while captain Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 28 to guide India home alongside Tilak Varma.
This is the first win for India under Shreyas Iyer, after a series of defeats in Ireland and England. Mayank Yadav won the Player of the Match award for his miserly bowling and wickets.
"It feels great to contribute to the country in a win. It's a great feeling, especially coming back after a very long interval. It's a very special moment for me. [On the conditions] The wicket was pretty good. I was enjoying a lot bowling on this wicket, especially after playing in India. It's the first time I'm playing in Zimbabwe. I was getting a good help from the wicket," Mayank said after the match.
The two teams will take on each other again on Saturday, with the final match of the series set to be played on Sunday.
