Sikander Raza’s splendid knock of 115 went in vain as Zimbabwe went down by 13 runs against India in the third one day international in Harare on Monday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul got India off to a steady start. The pair added 63 runs for the opening wicket before the latter chopped a delivery from Brad Evans on to his stumps for 30.
Dhawan (40) also perished to Evans, caught at covers by Williams off a leading edge.
Gill along with Ishan Kishan featured in a 140 run stand for the third wicket before the latter after reaching his well deserved half century, was run out by a direct hit from Tony Munyonga.
Deepak Hooda fell cheaply, bowled by Evans in the same over.
Sanju Samson (15) struck a couple of sixes before holding out to Kaitano at deep square leg off Jongwe.
However a scintillating 130 by Shubman Gill propelled the visitors to 289/8 in their allotted 50 overs. His knock came off 97 balls with 15 fours and a six.
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5/54.
Chasing 290, Deepak Chahar drew first blood by trapping Innocent Kaia (6) with an inswinging yorker.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano (12) had to retire hurt after injuring himself while slamming a maximum off Avesh Khan.
Sean Williams along with Tony Munyonga put on 75 runs for the second wicket before Axar Patel broke the stand by trapping the former right in front of stumps for 45.
Tony Munyonga (15) then miscued a drive off Avesh to Rahul at mid-off.
Axar claimed his second wicket when Regis Chakabva (16) pushed a length ball back at the bowler, who took a sharp return catch.
The returning Kaitano was then stumped by Ishan Kishan by a wrong’un from Kuldeep Yadav as the hosts lost half their side for 122.
Ryan Burl (8) while trying to take on Chahar, slogged one to Shikhar Dhawan at mid-on who took a well-judged catch.
Luke Jongwe then smashed Chahar for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries. However he fell soon edging a wrong’un from Kuldeep to Gill at slip for 14.
The duo of Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans featured in a fighting 104 run stand for the eight wicket to bring the hosts back into the contest, before the latter was trapped leg before wicket by Avesh Khan.
With 17 needed off 12 balls, Shardul Thakur dented Zimbabwe’s hopes by claiming the prize scalp of Raza, caught brilliantly by Gill who dived forward and took the catch inches off the ground for a fantastic knock of 115. His innings came off 95 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes.
Avesh then cleaned up Victor Nyauchi (0) with a brilliant yorker to give India a 13 run win.
With this victory, The Men in Blue registered a clean sweep.
Shubman Gill was adjudged the Player of the Match and the Series.
India 289 for 8 (Gill 130, Kishan 50, Evans 5-54) beat Zimbabwe 276 (Raza 115, Williams 45, Avesh 3-66) by 13 runs