ZIM VS IND 3RD ODI

That is it from this series then! KL Rahul is handed the trophy and he poses for the cameras along with his teammates. Now then, India have their next assignment in the Asia Cup. Their first match will be against Pakistan on 28th August at 7.30 pm IST ( 2.00 pm GMT)  while Zimbabwe will travel to Australia for a three-match ODI series. The first match will be on 28th August at 5.10 am IST ( 11.40 pm GMT, previous day). So, there is plenty of cricketing action across the globe to keep you busy. Keep checking the schedule page. From here, it is goodbye and cheers!

KL Rahul, the skipper of India is up for a chat. He says he feels great to win the series. Informs they wanted to use this time and use this opportunity and he’s really happy with the result. Mentions Sikandar Raza did take the game really deep, they would have loved to finish the game earlier on but it was a challenge for the bowlers and he’s happy they got across the line. Adds the body is fine and he is happy he could stay out there with the bat for longer.

Regis Chakabva, the captain of Zimbabwe is up for a chat. He starts by congratulating India but also credits Sikandar Raza for his knock. Mentions the boys fought really hard and he is happy with their effort. Mentions they’ll take a lot of positives from today and they’ll be looking to play some good cricket there.

Shubman Gill is the Player of the Series for his 245 runs in the three ODIs. He says it feels great to play with the same bunch and it is special. Mentions this one was for his dad, he has been his coach all his life.

Shubman Gill is the Player of the Match for his brilliant innings (130 runs off 97 balls). He says he was just trying to not play a lot of dots and just try to time the ball. Adds there were a couple of bowlers who were bowling well but once they got in, they took on the bowlers. Mentions he has a really good bat. Says the 100 is special, he did not have a 100 before and this is special.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Earlier in the day, after electing to bat, India got to a total which we felt was above par coutesy a ton from Gill. Zimbabwe seemed down and out when they lost their 7th wicket and at that stage, it seemed like this would be defended easily. Raza though had different ideas, he gave India a real scare but the visitors got over the line.

India's bowling was brilliant till the 7th wicket. Their pacers were very good at the start and the spinners did brilliantly in the middle overs. Actually, the spinners were brilliant throughout. Combined they finished with figures of 20-1-68-4 but it seemed like the pacers would give it away. They took a real pounding towards the end. Especially Avesh Khan and Deepak Chahar. However, they did keep their calm and took their side over the line.

This innings though was just about one man, Sikandar Raza. It seemed all done when Zimbabwe were 169 for 7 but then came a special knock from Raza. He just wanted someone to hang in there and Evans did that. The two added over 100 with Raza scoring a ton and Evans doing what was needed of him. They needed just around 9 per over heading into the last 10 and they did manage to score at that rate. At one stage, they needed 17 from 13 and it seemed Zimbabwe would take this game but both Evans in Raza fell in quick succession and the last two could not do a lot. In the end, it was a hard fought win for India.

What a game! What an absolute beauty of a game that was! Sikandar Raza, what a player he has turned into, just magical. Have to feel sorry for him. Surely, this is one of the greatest knocks we have seen in a losing effort. Still though, Zimbabwe can be proud of the way they have competed. In the end though, it is India who complete the whitewash.

OUT! TIMBER! Avesh Khan bowls the perfect yorker to end things here. This is in the blockhole, on middle, Victor Nyauchi is very late to put his bat down to block it and the ball goes through and rattles the stumps. INDIA WIN BY 13 RUNS and wins the series 3-0.

A full toss and outside off, Richard Ngarava drills it towards sweeper cover for just one.

A dot to start the over! This is full and outside off, Richard Ngarava tries to heave it but misses. 15 needed in 5 now.

Another brilliant slower ball, on off and length again, Victor Nyauchi swings but cannot connect.

A slower ball, on a length and outsid off, Victor Nyauchi tries to cut it but misses.

OUT! TAKEN! A spectacular catch by Shubman Gill to send Raza back to the hut. That should be the game for India! Disbeleif amongst the Zimbabwe fans as their last hope is walking back. He though has played an absolute gem of an innings. An innings not many will forget Just stunning. Single-handedly, he has got Zimbabwe so close but he needed to be there till the end to take them over the line. Great gesture from the Indians as they come up to him and congratulate him for his knock. Coming to the ball now, it is full and on middle, Raza fails to get under it completely. He does not get the elevation he wanted. It goes flat towards long on. Gill dives forward and takes it.

Another slower ball, on a length and on middle, Richard Ngarava goes for the heave but gets it of his gloves and the ball goes nowhere but Raza calls for the run, Thakur picks up and has a shy at the bowler' s end but misses and the batters get the run.