An unbeaten century from debutant opener Lokesh Rahul steered India to an easy nine- wicket victory over hosts Zimbabwe in the first one-day International on Saturday. Rahul smashed a six off the last ball of the innings to finish on 100 not out from 115 balls and complete a dream debut. India won the toss and sent Zimbabwe in to bat, restricting the home side to 168 all out one ball short of their 50 overs.
They were measured in their response but always in front of the rate and reached 173 for one wicket with 45 balls to spare. The tourists lost another debutant, Karun Nair (seven), early on but an unbeaten 162-run second-wicket stand between Rahul and Ambati Rayudu (62 not out) made it an easy chase. Zimbabwe had earlier struggled from the start of their innings as a cautious approach failed to stop them losing wickets at regular intervals.
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Scoreboard Zimbabwe
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P. Moor lbw b Sran 3
C. Chibhabha b Bumrah 13
H. Masakadza c Dhoni b Kulkarni 14
C. Ervine c sub (Fazal) b Patel 21
V. Sibanda c Dhoni b Bumrah 5
Sikandar Raza b Sran 23
E. Chigumbura b Bumrah 41
R. Mutumbami c Rahul b Chahal 15
G. Cremer b Kulkarni 8
T. Chatara c Rayudu b Bumrah 4
T. Muzarabani not out 1
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Extras: (3lb, 14w, 3nb) 20
Total: (all out, 49.5 overs) 168
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Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Moor), 2-30 (Masakadza), 3-47 (Chibhabha), 4-69 (Sibanda), 5-77 (Ervine), 6-115 (Sikandar Raza), 7-140 (Mutumbami), 8-156 (Cremer), 9-167 (Chigumbura), 10-168 (Chatara).
Bowling: Kulkarni 10-1-42-2, Sran 10-0-42-2, Bumrah 9.5-2-28-4, Patel 10-1-26-1, Chahal 10-1-27-1.
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India
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KL Rahul not out 100
K. Nair c Sikandar Raza b Chatara 7
A. Rayudu not out 62
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Extras: (1lb, 3w) 4
Total : (1 wkt, 42.3 overs) 173
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