India clinches series with 42-run victory over Zimbabwe; Sanju Samson shines with half-century

HARARE: India defeated Zimbabwe in the last match of the series. India won the fifth Twenty20 by 42 runs. Malayali player Sanju V Samson, who scored a half-century, is the top scorer in the Indian line-up. With the win, India won the five-match series 4-1. After an unexpected defeat in the first match, India went on to defeat the hosts in the next four matches.

Score: India 167-6 (20), Zimbabwe 125-10 (18.3)

Chasing a target of 168 runs, Zimbabwe at one point were in a strong position of three for 85 in 12.4 overs. But from there the Indian bowlers took control of the game. Dion Myers is Zimbabwe's top scorer with 34(32) runs. Tadiwanshe Marumani's 27(24) and Faras Akram's 27(13) who came to the crease as the eighth man were the only ones to hold on. Captain Sikandar Raza 8(12) disappointed once again.

Mukesh Kumar took four wickets for India conceding only 22 runs in 3.3 overs. Shivam Dubey took two wickets while Washington Sundar, Abhishek Sharma and Tusshar Deshpande took one wicket each. Batting first, India wicketkeeper Sanju Samson scored a half-century of 58(45). Other batsmen contributed were Shivam Dubey 26(12), Rian Parag 22(24), Rinku Singh 11*(9), Yashwasi Jaiswal 12(5), Subhman Gill 13(14), Abhishek Sharma 14(11).