Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed an 18-ball half-century to become the youngest player to score a T20I fifty as India defeated Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the first T20I in Harare.
Chasing 126, Sooryavanshi blasted 50 off just 18 balls, making the target a formality before India reached 126/3 with 40 balls to spare. Earlier, returning pacer Mayank Yadav (2/18) and Prince Yadav (2/19) ripped through Zimbabwe’s top order, restricting the hosts to 125/7 despite Wessly Madhevere’s 39.
Ishan Kishan contributed 35, while Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 27 as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and secured Iyer’s first T20I win as captain.
Brief Scores
Zimbabwe – 125/7 in 20 overs (Wessly Madhevere 39, Tadiwanashe Marumani 27 not out; Mayank Yadav 2-18, Prince Yadav 2-19)
India – 126/3 in 13.2 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 50, Ishan Kishan 35; Blessing Muzarabani 2-26, Richard Ngarava 1-30)