India’s top order buckled down after skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bat first against Zimbabwe in the first T20 International of the two-match series on Friday.
Steady knocks from the top three powered India to 178/5.
Openers Rahane (33 off 32 balls) and Murali Vijay (34 off 19 balls) provided a brisk start. Robin Uthappa built on the foundation and remained unbeaten on 39 off 35 balls.
Zimbabwe began the chase on a brisk note.
Teams: India: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Murali Vijay, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma.
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Charles Coventry†, Sikandar Raza, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Neville Madziva, Chris Mpofu, Taurai Muzarabani.
