Teen star Sooryavanshi smacks 81 as India thump Zimbabwe to sweep T20 series

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] won the toss and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/india-fcOzl2uI/zimbabwe-pCUnmKBm/?mid=xQU9mvZo"]posted 192-5 at Harare Sports Club[/a], led by a quickfire 81 from Sooryavanshi. He faced 49 balls and his innings included four sixes and eight fours.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zimbabwe/pCUnmKBm/"]Zimbabwe[/a], 10 places below second-placed India in the world T20I rankings, reached 157-7 in reply thanks mainly to an unbeaten 54 from lower-order batter Ryan Burl.[/p][p]Victory marked an Indian turnaround after a 2-0 T20I series loss in Ireland, then a 4-0 drubbing in England. It was the second straight series loss for Zimbabwe after going down 2-1 to Bangladesh.[/p][p]At 15, Sooryavanshi is the youngest cricketer to represent India. He has sparkled in southern Africa after debuting in the England series and amassing 42 runs over three innings.[/p][embed guid="b28b1039-6132-422e-850c-4d2d2950872c" url="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2081394521112514780" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]Sooryavanshi has had a memorable tour of Zimbabwe. He scored his maiden T20I half-century off just 18 balls in the first match and followed it up with 20 off nine deliveries in the second.[/b][/p][p]He made his intentions clear from the first ball of the final tour match. He launched the Indian innings with a four off Zimbabwe captain and all-rounder Sikandar Raza and reached 50 from 31 balls.[/p][p]The teen fell off the final ball of the 14th over. Sooryavanshi was out off a Wessly Madhevere delivery when Brad Evans dashed from the ropes to long off and caught the ball.[/p][embed guid="cf010573-82f8-4dad-9703-dc74e0c17268" url="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2081399457187512561" social-type="twitter" /][p]Wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan (29), a half-centurion on Saturday, did best among the other Indian batters, slamming four fours before being bowled by Raza.[/p][p]Zimbabwe slumped to 65-4 in reply with opener Brian Bennett and Raza both dismissed for golden ducks. The highlight of the innings was a 60-run fifth-wicket stand between Burl and Madhevere (28).[/p]