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India overwhelms Zimbabwe in one-day series

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December 15, 2000 

NEW DELHI-- (UNB/AP) - Pace bowler Ajit Agarkar hit the fastest 50 by an Indian in one-day cricket as the hosts defeated Zimbabwe in the fifth and final one-day match in the western city of Rajkot on Thursday.

India wrapped the series 4-1. It also won 1-0 the two-test series, which preceded the one-day internationals.

Chasing a victory target of 302 runs on Thursday, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 262 runs in 47.4 overs.

Zimbabwe had India on the run at one stage, claiming five top wickets with only 114 runs on board. India's fightback was led by young inexperienced players who put on 187 runs, losing only the wicket of Hemang Badani after he had scored 77 runs. India reached a big total of 301 for six in 50 overs.

Agarkar raced to his half century in just 21 balls, overtaking Kapil Dev's record of the fastest 50 off 22 deliveries against the West Indies in 1983. He later claimed three Zimbabwean wickets for 26 runs.

Young Reetender Sodhi also sparkled, scoring his first half century in one-day cricket. Sodhi and Agarkar wrested back the initiative from Zimbabwe by plundering the bowling in the last 10 overs. Medium pace Sodhi also claimed three Zimbabwean wickets for 43 runs.

Agarkar remained 67 not out, inclusive of seven boundaries and four sixes, scored off 25 deliveries. He clobbered Alistair Campbell for 21 runs in the final over.

Rahul Dravid led the Indian side in the absence of skipper Saurav Ganguly who was suspended for one match by Match Referee Barry Jarman for unsporting behavior in the previous match at Kanpur.

Ganguly appealed too often against the Zimbabwean batsmen on his own bowling. He showed dissent when the umpires rejected his appeals for leg before wicket.