The first T20I match between Zimbabwe and India at Harare on July 6, 2024 turned out to be an exciting one with the teams tied at 61 runs each after 12.4 overs. Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar put on a strong partnership to help India recover from a shaky start. Unfortunately, the match was abandoned due to a technical glitch, resulting in a tie breaker, which Zimbabwe won ultimately.
Pakistan and Zimbabwe: A Rivalry Renewed in the Cricket Arena
Pakistan and Zimbabwe, two prominent cricketing nations, have been engaged in intense rivalry across various formats of the sport. Their encounters in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) have witnessed thrilling contests and memorable performances.
Pakistan's Dominance in ODIs
Pakistan holds a significant edge over Zimbabwe in ODIs, having won 38 out of the 59 matches played between the two teams. The most recent ODI encounter took place in April 2018 at Bulawayo, where Pakistan emerged victorious by 6 wickets.
Zimbabwe's Resurgence in T20Is
While Pakistan has dominated in ODIs, Zimbabwe has shown signs of resurgence in T20Is. In the first ever T20I match between the two teams, which was played in July 2011 at Harare, Zimbabwe pulled off an upset by defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets. Since then, Zimbabwe has won 3 out of the 8 T20Is played against Pakistan.
Recent Developments: The Abandoned T20I
The most recent T20I match between Zimbabwe and India, held on July 6, 2024, in Harare, presented an unusual and thrilling spectacle. After 12.4 overs, both teams found themselves tied at 61 runs each. However, a technical glitch forced the abandonment of the match.
The Tie Breaker
In accordance with the playing conditions, a tie-breaker was played to determine the winner. Zimbabwe, captained by Regis Chakabva, won the toss and elected to bat first. They posted a challenging total of 17 runs in their 4-over innings.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, faced an uphill task chasing Zimbabwe's total. However, they could only manage 14 runs, handing Zimbabwe a thrilling tie-breaker victory.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who has won the most ODIs between Pakistan and Zimbabwe? Answer: Pakistan, with 38 wins out of 59 matches.
2. When was the first T20I match played between Pakistan and Zimbabwe? Answer: July 14, 2011, at Harare.
3. Which team won the most recent T20I match between Zimbabwe and India? Answer: Zimbabwe won the tie-breaker after the match was abandoned due to a technical glitch.
4. Who was the leading run-scorer in the abandoned T20I match? Answer: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) and Ishan Kishan (India), both scored 24 runs.
5. Which team has hosted the most international matches between Pakistan and Zimbabwe? Answer: Zimbabwe, with 20 matches hosted across various formats.
On his birthday, let's take a look at what made Sourav Ganguly one of the most influential and transformational captains in Indian cricket history. Ganguly's bold leadership, fearless attitude, and eye for young talent have left a lasting impact on the team. He taught them to believe, to fight, and to never be afraid of defeat. Without his contributions, the careers of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, and MS Dhoni may have turned out very differently. Ganguly's legacy has forever changed the culture of Indian cricket, breaking down barriers of hierarchy and bringing a new level of confidence and aggression to the team.
South African cricketer Wiaan Mulder's unbeaten knock of 367 not out has put him in an elite club of players who have scored 350 or more in a Test match. He is also only the third batsman in Test history to hit 100+ runs in two different sessions of the same innings. With this, he has also broken records for the highest individual South African score in Tests and the highest Test score in Zimbabwe.
On his 44th birthday, MS Dhoni, affectionately known as 'Mahi' by fans, received a flood of well-wishes from fans and former teammates. Among those sending their regards was cricketer Deepak Chahar, who shared a special bond with Dhoni both on and off the field. As one of India's most successful cricket captains, Dhoni has amassed impressive records in all formats, including leading the Indian team to the top of the ICC Test rankings and securing five IPL titles with the Chennai Super Kings.
After a lot of debate and speculation about whether Akash Deep's delivery that clean bowled Joe Root in the recent England-India Test match was a no ball or not, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has officially stated that it was indeed a legal delivery. Despite some confusion regarding the positioning of Deep's back foot, the MCC has clarified that the first point of contact of the foot with the ground is what determines a no ball, not subsequent positioning. The dismissal was a crucial breakthrough for India, helping them to seal a convincing series-levelling win against England.
Akash Deep led the charge for India against England in the second Test at Edgbaston, becoming the first visiting fast bowler to pick a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings at the venue. He finished the match with an impressive 10 wickets and also reached a unique milestone of being the first bowler in 49 years to dismiss four of England's top five batters in an innings on his own. Shubman Gill also played a crucial role in India's victory, earning the player of the match award for his 430 runs throughout the Test. This historic win brings the series level at 1-1 and cements India's dominance in the longest format of the game.
South Africa's stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder created history on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe by becoming the fifth-highest individual scorer in cricket history with an unbeaten 367*. Mulder, who also holds the record for the highest individual score by a Proteas batter in Test cricket, came dangerously close to surpassing Brian Lara's legendary 400*, but decided to declare the innings at 626/5. Despite missing out on breaking Lara's record, Mulder's scorching strike rate of 109.88 is the best among all triple-centurions in Test cricket.
India's fast-bowling sensation Akash Deep dedicated his extraordinary performance in the 2nd Test match against England to his elder sister, who is currently battling cancer. Tears of joy and emotion flowed as he revealed her personal struggle during a post-match interview, marking a poignant moment in cricket history. Despite facing hardships in his own journey, Akash's resilience and dedication have propelled him to the forefront of Indian cricket and his message to his sister is a powerful reminder of the bond between family and the support behind every success.
Wiaan Mulder's decision to declare his innings at 367, just 34 runs short of breaking Brian Lara's record, has sparked debates in the cricket world. Despite breaking multiple records, including the highest score by a first-time captain, Mulder chose to put the team's victory above personal achievements and respect Lara's legendary status. However, many are questioning if Mulder should have taken the chance to surpass the record and cement his name in history.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Grigor Dimitrov was unable to finish his Wimbledon match against Jannik Sinner despite holding a 2-0 lead. Dimitrov showed impressive form throughout the first two sets, but was ultimately hindered by an elbow injury that impacted his ability to hit powerful forehands. The audience was left in awe of Dimitrov's relentless determination and resilience, but ultimately had to watch as the Bulgarian had to retire from the match.
As Wimbledon enters its second week, top names like Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek continue to dominate in their matches. Meanwhile, rising star and world No 1 Jannik Sinner is also proving his worth on the court. Stay tuned for all the updates and analysis from another exciting day of tennis at Wimbledon.