Harare: A fancied India suffered a shocking two-run defeat at the hands of an unheralded Zimbabwe as they failed to chase down a tricky target in the first T20 International cricket match, here on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 171, India were restricted to 168 for six with seamer Neville Madziva bowling a brillint over to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After a 3-0 cakewalk in the preceding ODI series, India were brought down to earth by this embarrassing defeat in which captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's reputation as a finisher again took a beating.
Needing only 8 off the final over, Dhoni who couldn't connect a single big shot during his sedate 19 off 17 balls. Surprisingly, Dhoni took single to expose Himachal Pradesh's Rishi Dhawan (1), who simply lacked quality or ability to hit the ball out of the park.
Madziva bowled fuller and a few length deliveries, mixing it up nicely as the few hundreds of Zimbabwean supporters were ecstatic in joy.
IPL regulars like Manish Pandey (48) and Axar Patel (18) did their bit to set it up but when it mattered the most, the little known Zimbabwean boys, none of whom have franchise contract in private leagues did it for their country.
With 79 required off 42 balls, Pandey decided to take on rival captain Graeme Cremer, hitting him for two consecutive sixes as 16 runs came off the 14th over in company of skipper Dhoni. The presence of Dhoni also ensured that singles were converted into doubles.
The skipper got his first boundary in the next over with a nice little bisected between point and gully that went for a boundary. The bowler was Taurai Muzarabani. The 15th over yielded 10 runs.
With Pandey getting a boundary off Neville Madziva's next over that produced 12 runs -- India's victory bid was back on track with 38 runs coming off three overs.
Just when it looked that Pandey will take India home, he mistimed a lofted shot off Muzarabani's bowling to get out for 48 off 35 balls having hit a four and three sixes.
This brought down the equation to 28 off 16 balls. However Axar Patel hit one of the biggest sixes of the match over long-on to bring the equation down to 21 from 12 balls.
A four and six off penultimate over saw Axar bring down the equation to 8 from the last over which the Indians failed to get. India will play second ,atch at the same venue on Monday.
At the start of the chase, hero of India's ODI series win, KL Rahul (0) was played on first ball trying to guide Donald Tiripano delivery to third man.
Mandeep Singh (31, 5x4), playing his first match for the senior national team added 44 runs for the second wicket with Ambati Rayudu (19, 4x4).
Both hit a few crisp boundaries but the acceleration in scoring rate wasn't as much as they would have expected.
Rayudu was bowled trying to give Chamu Chibhabha the charge but the pint-sized Mandeep played some elegant drives in the off-side region mainly through covers.
He was finally holed out at long-off when Tinotenda Mutombodzi took a diving catch off Chibhabha. Mandeep played 27 balls.
India were in a spot at 60 for three when Kedar Jadhav (19) and Pandey came together.
Pandey launched in leg-spinner Graeme Cremer to hit him straight over sight-screen while Jadhav hit Sikander Raza over long-on.
Just when it looked that they were having some kind of partnership, having added 30 runs, Jadhav played an indiscreet shot off seamer Muzarbani to lose the off-stump in the process. India were 90 for four when Dhoni came into bat. But the skipper, who is a shadow of his former self could not take the team home.
The worst part was that it was the first time that the batting was put to test and the IPL regulars wilted under pressure.
Interestingly, India have now lost the last two T20 Internationals they have played against Zimbabwe. It will be after a long time that India will be playing to save a series against Zimbabwe.
Earlier, India's rookie bowlers were taken to cleaners by the seasoned Elton Chigumbura, who smashed an unbeaten 55 to help Zimbabwe reach a competitive 170 for six in 20 overs.
The trio of T20 debutants Rishi Dhawan (1/42 in 4 overs), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/38 in 4 overs) and Jaydev Unadkat (0/43 in 4 overs) gave away 123 runs in 12 overs.
Chigumbura hit seven lusty sixes along with a boundary to give his team something to fight for with his 26-ball knock.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (1/18 in 4 overs) and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah (2/24) put the brakes on the host nation.
Brief Scores
Zimbabwe: 170/6 in 20 overs (Elton Chigumbura 55 not out, Jasprit Bumrah 2/25).
India: 168 for 6 in 20 overs. (Manish Pandey 48, MS Dhoni 19 not out; Chamu Chibhabha 2/13).
Zimbabwe beat India by 2 runs.