India stayed alive in the T20 World Cup with a big win over Zimbabwe in Chennai. The defending champions won by 72 runs and knocked Zimbabwe out of the race for the semi finals.
India posted 256 for 4 after batting first. It is the second highest total in T20 World Cup history. Only Sri Lanka scored more when they made 260 for 6 in 2007.
Abhishek Sharma led the charge at the top. He scored 55 from 30 balls. He hit four fours and four sixes. Hardik Pandya finished the innings in style. He reached his fifty from 23 balls with a six off the last ball. Tilak Varma stayed unbeaten on 44 from just 16 balls.
Zimbabwe had a huge target of 257. Brian Bennett fought hard. The opener made 97 not out from 59 balls. He brought up his fifty in 34 balls. He hit eight fours and six sixes. But he did not get support. Sikandar Raza scored 31 from 21 balls. No other batter made a big score.
Zimbabwe ended well short. India sealed a strong win to stay in the tournament.
India had entered the match under pressure. They lost badly to South Africa in their first Super 8 game. Chasing 187 in that match, India were bowled out for 111. That defeat made this game a must win.
Zimbabwe captain Raza said before the match that it would be a battle of nerves. India showed no nerves at all. They attacked from the start.
Sharma came into the match after three ducks in his last four innings. He answered critics with a 26 ball fifty. Sanju Samson also started fast. He hit a six off the second ball and scored 24 from 15 balls. India raced to 80 for 1 in the powerplay.
Sharma and Ishan Kishan added 72 runs for the second wicket. Kishan made 38. Zimbabwe dropped several chances again. Suryakumar Yadav was dropped on eight and went on to score 33 from 13 balls.
Zimbabwe struggled badly in the field. In the Super 8 stage they dropped five catches in two matches. In the group stage they had been sharp and missed only one chance.
After Suryakumar fell, Hardik and Varma took over. They added 84 runs in the last 5.1 overs. They smashed seven sixes in that phase. Hardik moved from 12 off 8 balls to 50 not out off 23. Varma hit seven boundaries in 16 balls.
Zimbabwe bowlers had no answers. Their four pace bowlers gave away 197 runs in 14 overs.
India now have two points, level with West Indies. A win over West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday will send them into the semi finals.
South Africa and England have already qualified for the last four with one match to spare.
