Chibhabha helps Zimbabwe to 145/7

Opener Chamu Chibhabha continued his rich vein of form with the bat by slamming his third fifty of the tour and helped Zimbabwe post 145 for seven on a sluggish Harare Sports Club track, after stand-in captain Sikander Raza had opted to bat in the second and the final T20 international against India on Sunday.
Scorecard: India vs Zimbabwe
With the final chance to register a victory in the tour against India, Zimbabwe had everything to play for and the onus once again fell on the shoulders of the 27-year-old Chibhabha and the flamboyant right-hander scored 67 runs in 51 balls to hold the Zimbabwean innings together, despite wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end.
For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the most effective bowler taking two wicket and giving away just 26 runs in his four overs. Zimbabwe had started well against the Indian pacers with Hamilton Mazakadza donning the aggressors' role but was sent packing by Sandeep Sharma immediately after hitting a six in the fourth over. Mazakadza dabbed a back of length delivery to wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa on 19 and handed Sandeep his maiden international wicket.
Introduction of spinners made things tough for Zimbabwe and in a bid to up the ante, stand-in skipper Sikandar Raza (8) threw his wicket away slicing a wide delivery to debutant Sanju Samson at third man off Mohit Sharma. Sean Williams, playing in place of injured Elton Chigumbura, too failed to support Chibhabha who looked in top nick in the middle. Axar got rid of Williams – for the third time in the tour - for 17 in the 12th over.
Chibhabha then cut loose and scored couple of boundaries off Mohit and reached his fourth T20I fifty by taking a single towards long-on in the 15th over. Charles Coventry (4) departed soon after for just four runs to Stuart Binny. Craig Ervine and Chibhabha then got some quick runs, but Bhuvneshwar yorked Chibhabha in the 19th over to end the 19-run fifth wicket stand.
Zimbabwe could only manage to add 13 more another runs at the expense of two wickets after the fall of Chibhabha to end with 145 for 7 in their 20 overs.
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