Defending champions India thrashed Zimbabwe by 72 runs of their Tremendous Eights T20 World Cup match on Thursday, a outcome that assured South Africa a spot within the semi-finals.
India posted a mammoth 256-4 after which restricted Zimbabwe to 184-6 in Chennai to make their conflict with West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday a winner-takes-all decider for the final semi-final berth.
South Africa hammered the West Indies by 9 wickets earlier in Ahmedabad.
At Chennai’s MA Chidambaram stadium, opener Abhishek Sharma blasted 55 and Hardik Pandya an unbeaten 50 as India piled up the second highest complete within the historical past of the event after being invited to bat first.
“I feel we wished to go away all the things behind. We did not assume an excessive amount of about what we did within the league stage or within the final recreation in Ahmedabad,” stated India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
“With contributions from the highest order proper right down to quantity seven, I feel there was hardly something lacking in our efficiency.
He stated they’d not considered what’s now a knockout match towards the West Indies on Sunday.
“As soon as we attain Kolkata, we’ll sit down and plan correctly for that recreation,” Suryakumar stated.
“For now, it is about taking a break day, touring, and enjoyable.”
Zimbabwe, who shocked Australia and Sri Lanka to succeed in the Tremendous Eights, have been by no means within the chase regardless of a brisk begin because the asking price saved rising.
Opener Brian Bennett was not out 97, the very best particular person rating by a Zimbabwean in T20 World Cup historical past, as his aspect exited the semi-final reckoning with a recreation nonetheless to play.
India’s left-arm fast Arshdeep Singh took 3-24 from his 4 overs.
‘Keen to enhance’
“We’re additionally a piece in progress,” stated Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza.
“We now have a whole lot of kids, most of them are enjoying their first World Cup, first time ever in India for us.
“Not that I wish to use that as an excuse, however actually the teachings from the final recreation, from a batting standpoint, I assumed we took them very well.
“And you may see how rapidly these boys are prepared to enhance they usually confirmed up immediately.”
Zimbabwe’s bowlers conceded 510 runs in 40 overs in two Tremendous Eights matches after West Indies posted 254-6 against the tournament’s surprise packages on Monday.
Raza won the toss and opted to field for the second match running, and again saw his bowlers flogged to all parts.
Left-handed Abhishek, who had struggled with three ducks in four innings in this tournament, hit four fours and four sixes to return to form.
Pandya and left-handed Tilak Varma, who hit a 16-ball 44, put on an unbeaten stand of 84 at the end, but India came up just short of the T20 World Cup record score of 260-6 made by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 2007.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson returned to the team to break the left-handed opening combination of Abhishek and Ishan Kishan and handed India a flying start.
Samson fell for 24 off Blessing Muzarabani but Abhishek kept up the charge, reaching his fifty off 26 balls in a 72-run stand with Kishan (38).
Abhishek fell to Tinotenda Maposa, caught at long-on, but his knock laid the platform for a big total. Skipper Suryakumar hit 33 off 13 balls.
Pandya finished with a flourish with two sixes off Brad Evans to get to 50 on the final ball of the innings.
