Suresh Raina slams unbeaten 110 to help India outclass Zimbabwe despite losing the top-order cheaply. Captain MS Dhoni remains unbeaten on 85 to play a key suIndia maintain their unbeaten record in World Cup 2015 by defeating Zimbabwe by six wickets. Here are the highlights from the match: (SCORECARD | Standings)
(All times in IST)
With that India maintain their unbeaten record in World Cup 2015. This is also MS Dhoni's 10th World Cup win-on-the-trot, beating Clive Lloyd's record of 9. Dhoni & Co. now have a four-day break before the all-important quarters clash vs Bangladesh on March 19.
Raina is adjudged man-of-the-match. "This means a lot to me. I got one in U-19 World Cup and now once again here, so it's great," he says at the post-match ceremony. "The idea was to bat smartly. People in coaching staff like Sanjay Bangar and Ravi Shastri have been telling us to do that and I am glad I could today.
0218: Match over! Dhoni seals the match with a six down the ground. What a superb effort from him and Raina. They share an unbeaten stand worth 196.
0210: India need 16 off final three overs. Should be a cakewalk from here.
0206: With the finish line in sight, Dhoni joins the party and destroys the bowling attack with fours and sixes galore. He is now in his 70s.
0200: It is raining Raina runs in Auckland! Fours are coming by the dozen and a rather inexperienced Zimbabwean side is buckling under pressure. (Read more about Raina's knock today here)
0155: Century for Raina! That's his fifth and comes off 84 balls. He has hit eight fours and four sixes in the innings so far. India need 43 off 34.
0152: Raina is in his 90s! What an epic knock from the left-hander. Will do him a world of good ahead of the quarters.
0144: Fifty for MS Dhoni! Indian captain completes his 57th half-century off 56 balls. India need another 64 off 44 balls.
0140: Did you know? Raina's last ODI century was against England in Cariff on August 27th last year. Can he get his career's fifth today? He is on 82.
0136: After 41 overs, Zimbabwe were 232/4. The team though collapsed towards the end. India are 204/4 and with a solid foundation to attack from.
0134: India need another 91 off the final 10 overs.
0130: The 100-run partnership comes up between Raina and Dhoni. It took them just 103 balls. This is the 9th time the two batsmen have shared a century between each other.
0126: Statistic - When India bats second and Raina scores in excess of 50, the team wins 88% of matches.
120: Raina is on fire! After reaching his fifty, the batsman seems to have switched gears. His shots are more emphatic and are racing to the fence.
0116: Fifty for Raina! Steps out a bit to find the boundary through long-off. That is his 35th half-century.
0113: India need another 125 from 84 balls and Raina-Kohli partnership is looking very good right now.
0105: Dropped! Raina gets a huge lifeline. Goes for a half-hearted sweep but the outside edge goes straight up. In what was the easiest of chances, Masakadza is left red-faced. So is bowler Raza, but with rage.
1255: Raina has been looking to attack and some of his shots have paid rich dividends so far. He completes 50-run stand off 57 balls with Dhoni.
1248: After 31.1 overs, both teams identical - 131/4!
1245: Indian fans in Auckland are still keeping their morale high. Dhoni is at the crease. The Indian captain's mature knock won the team the match against West Indies. An encore?
Dhoni's World Cup so far: DNB, 45*, DNB, 18 and 18.
1233: In Hobart, Australia have lost three chasing Scotland's 130. Clarke was the last victim. Get latest updates here.
1224: Out! Raza was electric on the field and he has just got the biggest wicket of the day in his own over. Kohli (38) is left completely dazed as the ball hits the glove and finds the stumps. India 92/4 now.
1215: Taylor brings in William for a bit of slow spin. Raina looks to attack him and comes close to losing his wicket on at least two occasions in that over.
1212: Raina has been guilty of fishing balls moving outwards. It has led to his demise on several occasions. Will it spell his doom today as well? India 84/3 after 21. Zimbabweans were 72/3 at this stage.
1157: Out! It's the big wicket of Rahane (19). He tries to go for a single but Kohli turns him back. Too late! Raza was on the ball in a flash and Taylor knocks the bails off. India 71/3 (16.3).
1147: India 65/2 after 15 overs with the onus on Kohli and Rahane to put the chase back on track. This is also when Zimbabwe looked upon Taylor and Williams to steady the innings after losing three early.
1132: Rahane is just so effortless when playing his shots. He has hit two to the ropes and both have been sublime lessons in traditional cricket.
1120: Indian fans continue to scream their cheer. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the middle and they have the firepower to snatch the advantage back.
Kohli's World Cup so far: 44*, 33, 33*, 46 and 107.
Rahane's World Cup so far: 33*, 14, DNB, 79 and 0.
1114: Out! Panyangara strikes once again, this time it is Dhawan who has to make the long walk back. A cut short goes awry as the ball crashes back onto the stumps. India 21 for 2.
1112: Out! A leading edge from Rohit's bat goes straight to Raza. The Zimbabwe contingent in the stands is ecstatic.
Stat: Is this the first time Rohit has faltered against a smaller team this World Cup? He hit 150 vs Afghans (warm-up), 57* vs UAE and 64 vs Ireland. Against the bigger teams? 8 vs Australia (warm-up), 15 vs Pakistan, 0 vs South Africa and 16 vs Zimbabwe.
1110: After 5 overs, India 20 for no loss. At this stage, Zimbabwe had lost two wickets already.
1108: Dhawan is off the mark with a four after facing 11 dot deliveries.
1106: Meanwhile in Hobart, Scotland are 130/8 against the Aussies. Get updates from that match here.
1104: Dhawan biding his time. He has faced 9 deliveries but is yet to open his account.
1100: The second over is a maiden.
1055: A wayward first over from Zimbabwe. The ball went all around the two Indian batsmen with Rohit helping himself to two crackling fours. Next up: Tendai Chatara.
1050: Panyangara comes out to bowl the first over. He faces Dhawan and Rohit.
In numbers:
* Zimbabwe score 93 in final 60 balls of the innings before being bowled out in 48.5.
* Zimbabwe crash from 276/6 to being bowled out for 287.
* This is the sixth time that Indians have bowled out opposition.
1003:All Out! Umesh rattles the stumps and this is now the sixth time this World Cup that India have bowled out the opposition. Zimbabwe fold for 287.
1002:Out! Chakabva (10) becomes the ninth to fall. He fails to negotiate an Umesh deliver and finds Rohit at backward square.
0958: With the last wicket, Shami is now the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 15 scalps.
0956:Out! Panyangara pulls Shami but finds Umesh at deep midwicket. Zimbabwe 285/8 (47.3).
0950:Out! Raza is bowled on 28 by Shami. Yorker crashes into the base of middle stump. Zimbabwe 276/7 (46).
0948:Did you know? Zimbabwe have hit 11 sixes so far in the innings - that's the most ever hit in a single World Cup innings.
0945: Zimbabwe 259/6 after 45 overs. Raza and Chakabva look for the final push. Shami tries to stop the flow of runs.
0943: Mohit completes his ten overs. The pacer takes 3 for 48.
0935: Out! Ervine falls to Mohit who now three.
0930: Out! Taylor's memorable knock comes to an end with a shot to mid on fielder. Every Indian on the field rushes in to wish the batsman as he walks out from what was his final knock for Zimbabwe. He made 138. (Read all about Taylor here)
0921:Taylor smashes 25 off the Jadeja over. Zimbabwe 232/4 after 41.
0920: Taylor is looking to step up. He has switched gears effortlessly - targeting Jadeja for four fours and two sixes in the 41st. His strike rate in last 10 balls is 360. The 100-run partnership with Ervine comes up off just 77 balls.
0915:Did you know? Taylor now surpasses Alistair Campbell as the Zimbabwean with most ODI centuries.
0913: Taylor continues to attack India in the final powerplay. Zimbabwe complete 200 in 39 overs.
0910:Century for Taylor! An epic innings in his final appearance for Zimbabwe. Taylor takes just 99 balls to complete his 8th ton - 2nd on the trot.
0902: In the other match of the day, Australia bowl against Scotland. Get updates here.
0859: Taylor and Ervine trying to set a base to for quick runs in the last 10 overs.
0845: Indian fans have once again come out in huge numbers to cheer their team. For latest photos, check out our Twitter handle - @CricketNDTV.
0830: Craig Ervine is the new man in. He has played 30 ODIs and has hit six fifties.
0826:Out!� Ashwin has his revenge as Williams (50) sends one straight back to the bowler. Third umpire checks and deems the catch was legal. Zimbabwe four down.
0820:Fifties for Taylor and Williams! While captain Taylor took 64 balls to reach his 33rd half-century, Williams has been more aggressive and took 55 to complete his 21st.
0815: Williams is whacking Ashwin and whacking him good. The batsman slams two sixes off three balls in the 26th over. Ashwin forced to consult Dhoni on field placement - that's a first perhaps in this tournament.
0812: Zimbabwe complete 100 in 24.5 overs.
0806: First six of the match comes in 24th over. Williams showing absolutely no respect to Ashwin this time as he delivers it far over deep mid-wicket boundary. Did you know? Williams smashed seven fours and two sixes in Zimbabwe's previous match against Ireland. His strike rate was 115 in that match.
0802: Taylor and Williams complete 50-run partnership off 68 balls. Taylor has scored 34 of those runs.
0800: Spin now from both ends as Ashwin and Jadeja look to keep the flow of runs down to a trickle. Ashwin in particular has been good in containing runs and adding to the pressure. He ha claimed 11 wickets so far in the tournament at an economy of 3.89.
0754: Mohit completes his first five overs. He has been extremely economical once again and has given away just 15 runs so far. Zimbabwe 64/3 after 20.
0743: Zimbabwe bring up fifty in 16.1 overs. It was a stylish way to reach the first fifty as well with Williams stepping out to Jadeja and dispatching him over mid off.
0740: Can Taylor and Williams rescue Zimbabwe? Here's a look at their last five ODI innings:
Taylor - 121, 50, 37, 47 and 40 (from most recent)
Williams - 96, 33, 76, 76* and 8 (from most recent)
0736: After 15 overs, Zimbabwe 43/3. Taylor and Williams attempt to anchor themselves in.
0731: Dropped! Williams gets a lifeline. There was� a clear inside edge but the change in direction of the ball left Dhoni confused - the ball hitting him on his wrist. That's one wicket less for Mohit.
0730: Mohit may have harmed his leg in his follow-up. Slight hobble, a bit of stretch and he's back on his feet.
0722: Sean Williams is the new man in. An old war horse, the Zimbabwean has hit 20 fifties but has never reached the three-figure mark in 74 ODIs. Will today be any different? Dhoni brings in Ashwin and Jadeja's spin. He is with Taylor.
0720: Out! Mire (9) makes the long walk back without even waiting for the decision. A very faint edge is taken by Dhoni behind the stumps. Mohit - the bowler - hardly even appealed. Zimbabwe 33/3 after 11.
0714: No respite for Zimbabwe as Dhoni brings in Mohit Sharma as the expected first change. The Rohtak pacer has claimed seven wickets in the tournament so far. Did you know? Mohit has credited Ishant Sharma for helping him understand conditions Down Under. He was included after Ishant injury ruled him out. (Also read: Mohit says nobody expects his bouncers to be quick)
0712: On an average, Zimbabwe have been 45/1 after their first 10 overs this World Cup. Are 27/2 after 10 vs India.
0656: Two new batsmen in the middle. Captain Taylor is playing his final ODI and would look to bat big. He has had seven centuries and 32 fifties in a lofty career. At the other end is 25-year-old Solomon Mire who has hit 2 fifties in nine matches. He will have to support his captain if Zimbabwe are to rebuild today.
0652: Out! Chibhabha (7) falls to Shami. A bit of bounce and the batsman had a lackluster attempt at it. All he could manage was a thick edge and Shikhar Dhawan at widish 1st slip completes a good diving catch.
0647: Out! Masakadza edges Umesh to Dhoni behind the stumps. The ball was pitched up and the batsman tried to play the cover drive only to get the outer part of his bat to ball. Masakadza scores 2 today and his World Cup ends with another bad knock. He has scored 5, 29, 5 and 1 in the previous matches.
0640: Zimbabwe get their first boundary courtesy an inside edge off the blade of Chibhabha. Although some way away from the stumps, fortunate nonetheless.
0635: Umesh will come in from the other end. He has seven wickets from the tournament so far which makes him the fourth highest Indian wicket-taker and 26th overall. He will bowl to Hamilton Mazakadza who has three ODI tons and 26 fifties. Three from the over.
0630: Mohammad Shami with the new ball. He has 12 wickets in the tournament so far and needs 18 more in 8 matches to become fastest-ever bowler to 100 ODI scalps. He is up against Chamu Chibhabha - a player with 10 fifties from 66 matches. Three from the over.
0625: The last ODI between India and Zimbabwe in New Zealand was in the 1992 World Cup. India had won the match in Hamilton by 55 runs.
0620: Did you know? In the last seven ODIs in Auckland (since 2012), captains who have won the toss have chosen to field on six occasions. Dhoni then, going with the pattern.
0615: Teams:
India: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, AM Rahane, SK Raina, MS Dhoni, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, MM Sharma, Mohammed Shami and UT Yadav
Zimbabwe: CJ Chibhabha, Sikandar Raza, SF Mire, H Masakadza, BRM Taylor, SC Williams, CR Ervine, RW Chakabva, T Panyangara, T Mupariwa and TL Chatara
0602: India remain unchanged. Dhoni feels winning combination working and they would look to finish on a high. Zimbabwe with the same logic as Brendan Taylor looks for the perfect farewell. He plays the same side that took on Ireland.
0600: Toss! Dhoni flicks and wins it. India will field first!
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