Gill slams maiden ODI ton as India clinch nail-biter to complete clean sweep

Gill slams maiden ODI ton as India clinch nail-biter to complete clean sweep

Shubman Gill notched his maiden ODI century as India completed a 3-0 series sweep against Zimbabwe after their narrow 13-run win over the hosts in the third ODI. A majestic 115 from Sikandar Raza nearly took Zimbabwe over the line in the run chase after India posted 289, but the batter fell to a stunning catch from Gill in the penultimate over as the Men in Blue held their nerve at the death to avoid a potential upset in Harare.

Chasing 290, Zimbabwe lost Innocent Kaia in the third over as the returning Deepak Chahar pinned the opener on his pads with a yorker. However, the promoted Sean Williams ensured that the hosts didn’t suffer a third top-order collapse of the series, scoring a 46-ball 45 that included seven fours. Axar Patel trapped Williams on his pads in the 17th, five runs short of a half-century, and Zimbabwe lost a flurry of wickets through the middle to dent their hopes.

Tony Munyonga chipped one to KL Rahul off against Avesh Khan, Chakabva handed Axar a low return catch off his bowling, while opener Kaitano was stumped off Kuldeep Yadav to reduce Zimbabwe to 122 for five. Sikandar Raza sustained the hosts’ charge with a four and six against Deepak Chahar but continued to lose partners as Ryan Burl and Luke Jongwe fell in quick succession to leave the hosts needing 115 off 72 with just three wickets in hand.

However, Raza kept Zimbabwe in the contest despite the wickets tumbling, smashing Shardul Thakur for 20 runs in an over and targeting the Indian pace trio on his way to his sixth ODI ton. Raza put on 104 runs alongside Brad Evans for the eighth wicket, and the pair hit three boundaries against Avesh Khan in the 48th over to put Zimbabwe in the drivers’ seat, needing 17 off 13.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Evans fell to Avesh on the final ball of the over before Gill took an incredible diving catch to dismiss Raza for 115, ending Zimbabwe’s chances of completing a miracle comeback.

Earlier, Gill was the star of the show with the bat as he scored his maiden ODI ton to take India to 289 for eight in the first innings. Gill walked in at 63 for one in the 16th over following a sedate start from openers Dhawan and Rahul, and the right-hander added a 140-run stand with Ishan Kishan. The 22-year-old creamed 15 fours and a six in a stroke-filled 97-ball 130 before departing in the final over to Brad Evans – who finished with career-best figures of 5 for 54.