NEW DELHI: Zimbabwe’s fast-medium bowler
Luke Jongwe
pulled off a sensational boot-call celebration after taking the wicket of Indian batsman
Dhruv Jurel
in the first T20 international match of the five-match series.
The celebration took place during the 10th over of India's innings. On the fifth ball, Jongwe delivered a deceptive delivery to Jurel, who attempted to drive it through extra cover.
The ball, however, wasn’t as full as Jurel anticipated, and Jongwe cleverly took the pace off it. As Jurel pressed forward, he mistimed his shot, resulting in a catch by Madhevere at short cover. This dismissal saw India further sliding into trouble at 43-5.
Jongwe, thrilled by his success, executed a unique celebration. He mimicked making a phone call with his boot, delighting fans and adding a touch of flair to his performance.
Batting first, Zimbabwe's innings faced challenges. Contributions from Madhevere (21), Brian Bennett (22), and Clive Madande (29 not out) helped Zimbabwe reach 115-9 in their 20 overs. Ravi Bishnoi was the standout bowler for India, taking four wickets, while Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan chipped in with key dismissals.
India's batting lineup struggled throughout their innings.
Abhishek Sharma
was dismissed for a duck,
Shubman Gill
managed a modest 31, and
Ruturaj Gaikwad
added 7 runs. Riyan Parag and
Rinku Singh
also fell cheaply, scoring 2 and 0, respectively. Dhruv Jurel, despite his efforts, was dismissed for 7 runs off 14 balls. Washington Sundar fought to sustain Indian hopes, yet fell short in steering them to victory.
Zimbabwe's bowling attack was impressive, with Sikandar Raza and Tendai Chatara leading the charge, taking three crucial wickets. Brian Bennett,
Wellington Masakadza
, Blessing Muzarabani, and Luke Jongwe all contributed with disciplined bowling, limiting India to conceding a defeat.
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