Defending champions India posted the second-highest overall score in the Men’s T20 World Cup (256-4), defeating Zimbabwe by 72 runs to book a place in the semi-finals.
The loss in Chennai almost meant the co-hosts and favorites to be eliminated, who started their Super 8s campaign with a heavy defeat to South Africa at the weekend.
However, India bounced back strongly from that poor result to set up a winner-take-all showdown with West Indies for the second qualifying spot from Group 1 in Kolkata on Sunday (1.30pm UK).
India’s Hardik Pandya (left) scores 23-ball fifty as they beat Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup
Suryakumar Yadav’s team’s overall result was only bettered by Sri Lanka’s 260-6 against Kenya in 2007 in the tournament’s record.
Zimbabwe, who failed to advance to the semi-finals with 2 wins and 2 losses, responded with 184 for 6, with Brian Bennett hitting 97 off 59 balls and India’s left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh taking 3 wins and 24 losses.
South Africa’s nine-wicket victory over West Indies earlier in the day, coupled with India’s win over Zimbabwe, ensured the Proteas a place in the finals.
India’s Abhishek Sharma took his first shot of the tournament, hitting 55 off 30 balls.
India broke the limit when they came to bat.
India cracked 17 sixes and hit as many fours after Zimbabwe’s insertion.
Abhishek Sharma (55 off 30 balls) played his first notable knock of the tournament and top-scored after playing 15 innings against South Africa with three ducks as an opener.
However, all of India’s top six batsmen contributed, including Hardik Pandya (23 not-for-50), Suryakumar (13-for-33) (retired for eight to Blessing Muzarabani in a deep backward square) and Tilak Varma (16-for-44).
Abhishek and Sanju Samson (24 off 15) smashed 48 off 23 for the first wicket, Ishan Kishan (38 off 24) and Abhishek 72 off 42 on the second wicket, and the innings ended in an unbroken alliance of Hardik and Tilak with 84 off 31.
Brian Bennett hit 66 and 84 in 97 matches but was unavailable for Zimbabwe.
After that, Bennett hit six sixes and eight fours for Zimbabwe, and together with captain Sikandar Raza (31 off 21), Zimbabwe completed 72 off 42 deliveries, with Raza holing out at long-on off Arshdeep for the third wicket.
Zimbabwe will be looking for their first Super 8 win when they take on South Africa in Delhi on Sunday (9.30am UK).
Watch every match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket, including the final on Sunday 8th March. Get Sky Sports and stream now without a contract.
