World Cup, India vs Zimbabwe as it happened: India beat Zim by 6 wickets

India have won 6 out of 6. They have been the best team in the group stages and could win this whole shebang.

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MS Dhoni: Zimbabwe is a good side but still we are expected top win. The ball was not coming on nicely and their bowlers exploited it. This game could nothaev been better. Raina is a key player for us. Could have been better if one of us had got out and Jadeja got to bat but winning is important. Everyone has been put under pressure – fast bowlers, spinners, top 6. Overall, that is very important. It is looking good. Most of our batters have got a chance to bat.

Brendan Taylor: We played some brilliant cricket and we have been shoddy at times and that has really hurt us. Haven’t been a lot in it, dropped catches, not finishing off our bowling at the end, losing wickets at crucial stages. The crucial dropped catch there. That happens. They played the better cricket. No surprise they are top of the group. Getting a hundred i the World Cup is always special but both were in losing causes. Would have been sweeter if we could have won.

Raina: I knew if I got the ball in my area, I had to play my shots. At the same time, we played really smart cricket. Took a lot of singles. I thought whenebr I get the chance, I need to be smart. Lot of meetings with MS, Sanjay Bangar, Shastri. They kept backing the players. MS always said you can’t just go there and smash the ball. He always backed my instincts and my strokes. Got a hundred when I was Under-19 play. Now got in the senior team. Very happy today.

Dhoni and Raina soaked up the pressure like sponges soaking up water and went about chasing the target in clinical fashion. They knew exactly how they wanted to go about the chase and did it in style. Raina not out 110 at the end and Dhoni not out on 85. Zimbabwe will rue that dropped catch when Raina was on 48.

Dhoni finishes off the match with a SIX! Short ball and Dhoni doesn’t hesitate and hooks it into the crowd. India have won by 6 wickets. Dhoni and Raina have added 196 runs together to make it 10 wins for India on the trot in World Cups. It is also the highest score India has chased down in World Cup.s

Over 48: India 279/4 (Raina 109, Dhoni 77)

Eight from the over without a boundary. Just nine to get now. Will Dhoni take it to the last over or not?

The crowd is chanting Dhoni! Dhoni! Dhoni! Dhoni! They want to him finish this off with a six.

'Still not over,' it seems. These commentators must be getting paid by the cliche

— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) March 14, 2015

Over 47: India 271/4 (Raina 107, Dhoni 73)

Nothing going Zimbabwe’s way. Raina chips the ball to long-off and the ball just carried to the diving fielder running in but he couldn’t get his hands under it. Dhoni rubs it in by leaning back and smashing Mupariwa over long-off for SIX! The bowler tries to go full but is too full and Dhoni deflects the full toss to the fine leg boundary. 15 from the over. Just 17 to get now from 18 balls.

Over 46: India 256/4 (Raina 106, Dhoni 59)

Chatara again strays down leg and Raina helps the ball to the fine leg boundary. Chatara looks distraught. Zimbabwe self destructing under pressure. Dhoni and Raina attempt a suicidal single off the last ball and if the ball had hit the stumps, Raina could have kept running. The fielder misses and there is nobody at the stumps to gather the ball at the keeper’s end.

Well played @ImRaina . Fantastic 100 when it mattered the most. Hope you finish the job in hand. #CWC2015

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 14, 2015

Over 45: India 249/4 (Raina 101, Dhoni 56)

This is Raina’s first World Cup hundred. It has come at a crucial time for his team. India need 39 from 30 to win this.

HUNDRED for Raina. After tickling one to the fine leg boundary to get to 99, he just drops the ball at his feet and Dhoni responds immediately. Good innings under pressure, with an assist from Zimbabwe. Taken him 94 balls and includes 8 fours and 4 sixes.

This is now the highest 5th wicket partnership for India in the World Cup, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Over 44: India 240/4 (Raina 95, Dhoni 55)

Raina dabs Chatara past short third man for four more. Moves into the 90s too.. The boundary done, Dhoni and Raina take singles until Chatara serves up a chest high full toss that Dhoni swats to fine leg even as he takes evasive action. Another good over for India – 13 from it.

Zimbabwe cracking under the pressure.

Over 43: India 227/4 (Raina 89, Dhoni 50)

Raina plays the delicate-est of delicate late cuts and gets four. A single to long-off gets Dhoni to his FIFTY. A smart, calculating knock. Even an inside edge from Raina fetches two runs as Dhoni charges back for the second the fielder mucks up the throw. Ten from the over.

Over 42: India 217/4 (Raina 82, Dhoni 48)

Raina slams Masakadza through the covers and then lands on right on the rope at cow corner for SIX! 13 from the over.

Just 71 to get now.

One big over – like the 25 runs Taylor hammered off Jadeja – is what India need.

Over 41: India 204/4 (Raina 71, Dhoni 46)

Raza is back but slides down leg and Dhoni hammers it to the fine leg boundary. Raina flirts outside off and misses two consecutive balls before dabbing the ball into the offside and stealing a single. Dhoni does likewise on the legside. Seven from the over.

Key for India now is that Dhoni remains in the middle. India have won 37 of 39 games Dhoni has remained not out in a chase (1 tie,1 loss).

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) March 14, 2015

Over 40: India 197/4 (Raina 70, Dhoni 40)

Panyangara ambles up and bowls a slow bouncer – 122 kph – and Raina hammers it into the crowd for SIX! A couple of singles brings up the 100 partnership from 103 balls. It is the 9th century partnership between these two from 66 innings. That’s a lot for Nos 5 and 6.

Thirteen from the over in all and 39 from the PowerPlay. India will take that. They have 91 more runs to get from 10 overs, which is doable without much risk on such a small ground.

Over 39: India 184/4 (Raina 62, Dhoni 36)

Mupariwa just ambling up and putting the ball on the spot. No pace for the batsmen to work with. Dhoni can’t get the first four deliveries away. Just pushes them into the offside. A short delivery is then pulled to square leg but the fielder in the deep keeps Dhoni to one. A single to Raina means just two runs come from the over. Excellent work by Mupariwa.

India need 106 runs from 12 overs. Required run-rate is 8.83.

Over 38: India 182/4 (Raina 61, Dhoni 35)

Dhoni dabs the ball behind point and the point fielder deflected the ball past the short third man fielder and Dhoni gets four. Chatara bowls a terrible slower bouncer down legside and Raina helps it on its way to the fine leg boundary. Two from the final delivery make it 12 from the over. Just what India need.

Taylor summons Chatara for his second spell too.

Over 37: India 170/4 (Raina 55, Dhoni 30)

Panyangara is brought back into the attack and Raina smashes him on the up past mid-off to bring up his FIFTY. Shakes his bat at the dressing room. He is lucky to still be there, though. Still, only seven from the over.

Batting 2nd when Suresh Raina scores 50+ India win 14 times (88%), lost 2 #BingPredicts#DimagSay

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 14, 2015

Over 36: India 163/4 (Raina 49, Dhoni 30)

Mupariwa taking the pace off the ball. Raina tries to run himself out by haring down the pitch after Dhoni misses a straight ball. Dhoni isn’t even looking at him and Raina is half way down the pitch before he puts on the breaks. Dives full length to get home, then drops the bat and the gloves and takes a walk while he rubs his elbow.

Dhoni rescues the over by cutting the last ball between point and short third man for four. Still, only five from it. The required-rate is almost at 9.

Mupariwa to bowl the first over of the PP.

The batting PowerPlay begins.

Over 35: India 158/4 (Raina 48, Dhoni 26)

Raza continues and continues attacking legstump. Mostly singles accrue.

DROPPED! Raina goes for the sweep off the last ball and gets the top edge that Zimbabwe have been looking for but Masakadza at square leg drops a sitter. Raza stares at him with disbelief. Zimbabwe had worked so hard to create that opportunity. It could cost them the match.

Over 34: India 151/4 (Raina 44, Dhoni 24)

Masakadza starts bowling cross-seam. Just two from his first over. Doesn’t give either batsmen any width.

Hamilton Masakadza comes on to bowl his dibbly-dobblies.

Over 33: India 149/4 (Raina 44, Dhoni 23)

Raza offers Dhoni a legside full toss and Dhoni accepts the gift with glee. Swats it to deep square leg for four. Eight from the over.

Over 32: India 142/4 (Raina 41, Dhoni 17)

Mire decides to bounce Dhoni, who whacks him behind square for four. Wasn’t a bad bouncer, was a really good shot. Mire then provides width outside off and Dhoni cuts him to the point boundary. Another good over – 11 from it.

Mire has returned.

Over 31: India 130/4 (Raina 40, Dhoni 8)

Raza continues attacking that legstump with Dhoni on strike. Zimbabwe’s fielders also throwing themselves around to prevent singles in the circle. Just three from the over – all singles.

Over 30: India 127/4 (Raina 38, Dhoni 7)

Raina charges Williams first ball and this time gets hold of it and slams it over deep midwicket for SIX! Goes again second ball and slams a straight SIX over long-on. Gave it the full face of the bat. Those are short boundaries, says Sunny on commentary. The India fans in the crowd find their voice again too.

Williams switches to bowling around-the-wicket. Three singles follow. 15 from the over.

Is this when India finally break free of Zimbabwe’s shackles?

Over 29: India 112/4 (Raina 23, Dhoni 7)

Raina goes after Raza first ball but doesn’t get to the pitch and only gets a single to deep midwicket. Dhoni hammers the ball straight down the ground but only gets two as the fielder runs across from long-off and makes a rolling stop. Five from the over.

Over 28: India 107/4 (Raina 21, Dhoni 4)

Raina has another dash at Williams but misses everything. Luckily his body is behind the ball and it doesn’t get past him. Dhoni has a chat with Raina and tells him to calm down. Just three from the over.

Over 27: India 104/4 (Raina 18, Dhoni 4)

Raza deliberately bowling a legstump line from round-the-wicket and daring Dhoni to sweep. Dhoni does not and plays out five dot balls instead.

The required rate is now exactly 8 as we inch closer to T20 territory.

Over 26: India 103/4 (Raina 17, Dhoni 4)

Raina steps out and creams Williams’ first ball to cow corner for four. Just a single comes from the remaining five deliveries though. Dhoni in particular reaching for the ball.

Over 25: India 98/4 (Raina 12, Dhoni 4)

Raza wheels away and concedes just four runs. All these overs are increasing the pressure on Dhoni and Raina, neither of whom are timing the ball well.

Over 24: India 94/4 (Raina 11, Dhoni 1)

A quiet over from Williams. Just two from it. The ball clearly stopping on the batsmen, which it was not doing in the first innings. The required run-rate is now almost 7.5 an over. Ganguly thinks Zimbabwe will be disappointed to lose this from here.

MS Dhoni has to baat for a while today.

Kohli got bowled round the legs by an offspinner. Wtf! Some journo gonna get abused real bad

— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) March 14, 2015

Over 22.4: India 92/4 (Raina 10)

OUT! The crowd is stunned. Raza bowled one outside legstump. Kohli went for the sweep but mistimed his shot. The ball hits his glove and ricochets on to the stumps. Zimbabwe are jubilant. Kohli stands there in shock. He has been bowled round his legs.

V Kohli b Sikandar Raza 38 (48b 4×4 0x6)

India in some trouble now.

Raza comes on at the other end to bowl his offspin.

Over 22: India 90/3 (Kohli 37, Raina 9)

Raina pops the ball into the air on the legside twice and is lucky the ball doesn’t carry to a fielder on either occasion. The ball maybe just stopping on him. Raina then slog-sweeps Williams to the square leg boundary. Six from the over in all.

Sean Williams comes on to bowl his left-arm spin. India’s spinners struggled on this pitch.

Over 21: India 84/3 (Kohli 36, Raina 4)

Raina struggling to get the ball out of the circle on the offside. Manages to get a single to long-off on his fifth attempt. Excellent over from Mupariwa. Just one run from it.

Over 20: India 83/3 (Kohli 36, Raina 3)

Kohli slams one past point for a boundary. Absolutely hammered it. Then missed completely when he tried to hook a short ball. On commentary, Manjrekar thinks Kohli is too eager to get on the front foot and misses out when the ball is short.

Over 19: India 78/3 (Kohli 32, Raina 2)

Mupariwa raps Raina on the pads as Raina tries to work one to leg. He hasn’t quite figured out the pace of the wicket yet. Manages a single from the four balls he faces. Kohli manages a single and a two from the two balls he faces

Over 18: India 74/3 (Kohli 29, Raina 1)

Mire toils away.  He has go at Raina with the short ball. Raina pulls out of the pull shot to consecutive balls. He did not do that against West Indies. Went after anything. Just one from the over.

Suresh Raina is the new batsman. India under a little bit of pressure now.

Over 16.3: India 71/3 (Kohli 27)

The fifty partnership comes up with a single.

OUT! Rahane has run himself out. Called Kohli for a sharp single after dropping the ball on the offside but there was never a run in it. The fielder swoops in from cover and underhands a throw to the keeper, who knocks off the bails with Rahane’s bat over the line but in the air.

AM Rahane run out 19 (24b 3×4 0x6)

Over 16: India 69/2 (Kohli 26, Rahane 18)

Mire starts with a big bouncer that Kohli leaves well alone. A couple of singles and a two follow. Just four from the over.

Over 15: India 65/2 (Kohli 23, Rahane 17)

Kohli uses his strong right hand to muscle a ball outside offstump back over the bowler’s head and to the boundary. Seven from this over. The runs are coming at a quicker pace now.

Over 14: India 58/2 (Kohli 16, Rahane 17)

Solomon Mire replaces Chatara. Starts with a short, wide loosener that Rahane carves over point to the boundary. Kohli crunches a text-book cover drive – high left elbow and all – but can’t beat Raza, who dives to his left and gets a hand on to the ball. The frustration on Kohli’s face is clear for all to see. Eight from the over. India starting to loosen the shackles.

Over 13: India 50/2 (Kohli 15, Rahane 10)

Mupariwa comes on first change. The keeper comes up to the stumps to prevent Kohli chipping down the track. Four singles from the first four balls, then a dot, then a wide to bring up India’s 50. A dot rounds out the over.

Over 12: India 45/2 (Kohli 13, Rahane 8)

A sixth over for Chatara. Allows a single to Kohli from the first ball and then keeps Rahane quiet for the next five.

Over 11: India 44/2 (Kohli 12, Rahane 8)

Rahane also gets off the mark with a boundary, making it 4-for-4 for India (pun intended). Length delivery on offstump and Rahane caresses it to the long-off boundary. Rahane makes it two in the offer when he goes inside-out through the covers. Little more width and he jumped all over it.

Over 10: India 35/2 (Kohli 11, Rahane 0)

Another good over from Chatara. He has bowled very well with no reward.

Over 9: India 32/2 (Kohli 10, Rahane 0)

Panygara pitches one up and takes it past Rahane’s outside edge as the batsman comes forward in defence. Zimbabwe’s opening bowlers have been impressive but there is no depth beyond them and the pitch will start to east up in a couple of overs.

If they can get Kohli though …

Over 8: India 31/2 (Kohli 9, Rahane 0)

Kohli gets off the mark with a trademark punch between the bowler and mid-off. Ball runs away for four. Chatara goes wider in the crease and the angle takes the ball into Kohli’s pads, where no ball wants to be. Kohli whips it through midwicket for four.

Three slips in place for Kohli.

The crowd is chanting Kohli, Kohli. He is the star the fans come to see.

A double-wicket maiden for Panygara. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have some work to do.

Over 6.5: India 21/2 (Kohli 0)

OUT! Two wickets in the over for Panygara. Dhawan chops the ball onto his stumps trying to cut a delivery that was too close to him. He never looked comfortable.

S Dhawan b Panyangara 4 (20b 1×4 0x6)

Over 6.1: India 21/1 (Dhawan 4)

OUT! Rohit gets himself out again. Went for the expansive but got a leading edge that looped over cover and Raza does well to back peddle and take the catch.

RG Sharma c Sikandar Raza b Panyangara 16 (21b 2×4 0x6)

Over 6: India 21/0 (Rohit 16, Dhawan 4)

Chatara beats Rohit and Dhawan in the same over. He is causing problems and bowling at a decent pace. Just a single from the over.

Over 5: India 20/0 (Rohit 15, Dhawan 4)

Panygara trundles in with little threat. Slides on to the pads for a couple of deliveries and Rohit helps himself to two twos. Five from the over in all.

Over 4: India 15/0 (Rohit 10, Dhawan 4)

Dhawan gets off the mark from his 12th delivery by getting inside the line and hitting Chatara through midwicket for a boundary.

Over 3: India 10/0 (Rohit 9, Dhawan 0)

Much tighter over from Panygara, just a single from it. Zimbabwe not letting India get off to a flier.

Over 2: India 9/0 (Rohit 8, Dhawan 0)

Chatara smartly angles the ball across Dhawan and beats the batsman on the drive. Worked up a decent pace in excess of 135 kph too. A maiden to start.

Tendai Chatara and his unorthodox action steams in at the other end.

Over 1: India 9/0 (Rohit 9, Dhawan 0)

Rohit picks up India’s first boundary by gliding the ball past second slip to the boundary. He picks up India’s second boundary with a crunching backfoot punch through the covers. A touch of width from Panyangara and Rohit pounced on it. Much better shot than the first one. Panyangara responds with a lovely delivery that is fuller and just leaves Rohit and beats the outside edge.

Panyangara has the first new ball.

We are back with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma out in the middle. Zimbabwe’s only chance of winning this game is to take early wickets.

Taylor: A little bit two-paced early on. Had to get a partnership going. Think we are 30 or 40 short today. Seam bowlers seemed a lot harder to get away. There wasn’t much for the spinners so we decided to take a calculated risk.

60 wickets in 6 matches...but good to see the Ind bowling was put under pressure for once. They responded well. #ChaseCricket with @AltoK10

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 14, 2015

Zimbabwe all out for 287

OUT! Full delivery from Umesh does for the last man as it crashes into middle and legstump.

TL Chatara b Yadav 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

That’s 60 wickets out of 60 for India. Yadav finishes with 3 for 43 while Shami has 3 for 48. That adds up to nine wickets for the three seamers.

Tendai Chatara is the last man.

Over 48.1: Zimbabwe 286/9 (Mupariwa 0)

OUT! Another short ball, another wicket. Chakabva goes for the pull but the bat turns in his hands. Rohit misjudges the flight of the ball but is able to dive forward at the last moment and take the catch.

RW Chakabva c RG Sharma b Yadav 10 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Over 48: Zimbabwe 286/8 (Chakabva 10, Mupariwa 0)

Will India bowl out Zimbabwe? Will Zimbabwe get to 300. We have two overs in which to find out.

12 SIXES so far by Zimbabwe batsmen - these are the most sixes in an innings in Zimbabwe's ODI history. #INDvZIM #CWC15

— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 14, 2015

Over 47.3: Zimbabwe 285/8 (Chakabva 9)

Chakabva gets down on one knee to play the reverse-sweep but finds he must take evasive action instead as the ball whistles past his grill.

OUT! After a leg-bye, Panyangara tries a conventional slog and holes out to deep midwicket.

T Panyangara c Yadav b Mohammed Shami 6 (6b 1×4 0x6)

Over 47: Zimbabwe 284/7 (Chakabva 9, Panyangara 6)

Umesh is the only other front line bowler with overs to spare so he trundles in at the other. Umesh dishes up a legstump half-volley that Panyangara clips to the boundary. Umesh recalibrates and offers up an offstump half-volley that Panyangara clips over cover for two more. That is followed by a couple of swings and misses – typical tailender stuff.

Tinashe Panyangara is the new batsman.

Most runs conceded in an inns in WC (India):
87 Srinath v Aus Jburg 2003,
83 Karsan Ghavri v ENG Lord's 1975
75 Ashwin today#INDvZIM #CWC15

— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 14, 2015

Over 46: Zimbabwe 276/7 (Chakabva 8)

Shami comes back and Raza pulls him behind square for yet another boundary. Raza then backs away and somehow scythes a full delivery over cover for SIX! Shami responds with a bouncer and gets pulled off the front foot over midwicket for a second SIX!

OUT! Raza makes room again but Shami fires in the perfect yorker that pitches in the batting crease and hammers into middle stump.

Sikandar Raza b Mohammed Shami 28 (15b 1×4 3×6)

High batting ave as captain in a WC:
166.50 GTurner 1975
129.50 Brendan Taylor 2015
120.50 Ranatunga 1996
114.00 MCrowe 1992#INDvZIM #CWC15

— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 14, 2015

Over 45: Zimbabwe 259/6 (Raza 12, Chakabva 7)

Jadeja firing them in flat and fast. Gets away with a horrible short, wide delivery outside off that Raza can only cut away for a single. Seven from the over in all. Jadeja ends his day with figures of 0 for 71.

And Mohit has finished with 3 for 47 from his 10.

FYI, Ashwin has finished with figures of 1 for 75 from his 10.

Assuming that is Taylor’s last ODI innings, it is the 2nd highest last innings in ODIs behind James Marshall's 161 pic.twitter.com/P6lZi1yc15

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 14, 2015

Over 44: Zimbabwe 253/6 (Raza 10, Chakabva 2)

Mohit feeds Raza are half-tracker and gets pulled over long-on for SIX! Raza then reads the slower ball and cuts it to point for two more. Eleven runs from the over despite the loss of Ervine to the first ball.

Regis Chakabva is the new batsman.

Over 43.1: Zimbabwe 241/6 (Raza 1)

OUT! Mohit strikes with the slower ball. Ervine is completely fooled and is forced to check his shot. The ball strikes the ball and lobs back to Mohit. One of the easier caught-and-bowleds you will ever see.

CR Ervine c & b MM Sharma 27 (41b 1×4 1×6)

Over 43: Zimbabwe 241/5 (Ervine 27, Raza 1)

Ashwin returns with Taylor no longer around to torment him. Bowls a couple of pinpoint yorkers that any fast bowler would have been proud of. Raza just manages to dig them out. Just two from the over.

Unlikely to see a better knock in WC than Taylor's 138 today. What a pity this was his last in international cricket...

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 14, 2015

Over 41.5: Zimbabwe 235/5 (Ervine 22)

OUT! Taylor holes out to mid-on. Tried to drive Mohit on the up but the ball was too short for that shot. Hits high on the bat and the ball gently loops to the fielder. End of a superb and stunning innings from Taylor.

BRM Taylor c Dhawan b MM Sharma 138 (110b 15×4 5×6)

Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli come up and congratulate Taylor, who walks off slowly to loud cheers.

Over 41: Zimbabwe 232/4 (Taylor 137, Ervine 20)

Taylor keeps the onslaught going by taking apart Jadeja. Slog-sweeps Jadeja behind square, then lofts him to the deep midwicket boundary for back-to-back boundaries. Then it is more stand-and-deliver stuff as Taylor thumps Jadeja over long-off for SIX before sweeping him  past short fine leg for four more. Finishes the over with another crunching straight SIX! 25 from the over.

This is fantastic stuff from Taylor.

Brendan Taylor is the 2nd captain after Ricky Ponting in World Cup history to score back to back centuries in WC matches. #INDvZIM #CWC15

— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 14, 2015

Over 40: Zimbabwe 207/4 (Taylor 113, Ervine 19)

A tight over from Mohit is ruined when Rohit lets a slash from Taylor go through him at point. Seven from the over; 49 from the PowerPlay. Can Zimbabwe keep the momentum going over their last 10 overs?

This is Taylor’s 8th ODI hundred, making him the most prolific century maker for Zimbabwe. It is also back-to-back hundreds for him in the World Cup.

Over 39: Zimbabwe 200/4 (Taylor 108, Ervine 17)

Taylor creams a full delivery from Shami down the ground for the second SIX of the over. Brings up Zimbabwe’s 200 and makes it 17 from the over. 53 have come from the last 5 overs; 37 from the last 3.

Taylor takes off his helmet and pumps his arms in celebration. Can’t imagine what this means for him.

HUNDRED for Taylor in his farewell game. Ramps a short ball from Shami over the boundary behind him for SIX! Been a resolute, determined and stylish innings from Brendan.

Over 38: Zimbabwe 183/4 (Taylor 93, Ervine 16)

Ashwin surprisingly gets the ball in the PP. Taylor sweeps him for two, then steps back and straight drives Ashwin back over his head for four. After a missed reverse-sweep, Taylor makes room again and beats extra-cover with a powerful drive. 12 from the over.

Over 37: Zimbabwe 171/4 (Taylor 82, Ervine 16)

Ervine ruins a good over from Umesh by smashing a slower ball that pitched on a length over the deep midwicket boundary. Nine from the over.

Over 36: Zimbabwe 163/4 (Taylor 81, Ervine 10)

Good start to the PP by Shami. Keeps the damage down to three singles and a double. Couple of deliveries were down the legside but he got away with them as Taylor and Ervine could only turn them to fine leg for singles.

Time for the batting PowerPlay and time for Shami.

Ashwin’s 8 overs have gone for 61 runs.

Over 35: Zimbabwe 158/4 (Taylor 79, Ervine 7)

Tyalor sweeps Ashwin behind square and the ball takes one bounce and goes over the rope. Brings up the 150 for Zimbabwe. Then Taylor comes down the pitch and tonks Ashwin deep into the crowd in the upper tier. 11 from the over. Zimbabwe have taken a liking to Ashwin in this match.

Over 34: Zimbabwe 147/4 (Taylor 68, Ervine 7)

Taylor has a wild slash at one outside off and the healthy edge flies past Dhoni and races to the boundary. Dhoni applauds the delivery. With the last ball, Mohit beats Ervine with a cracker that just leaves the batsman and darts past the outside edge of the forward defensive shot.

Over 33: Zimbabwe 142/4 (Taylor 63, Ervine 7)

Taylor takes on Ashwin and swings him to cow corner for four. Another good over for Zimbabwe. Eight from it. Ashwin going at over 7 runs at over currently.

Over 32: Zimbabwe 134/4 (Taylor 57, Ervine 5)

Ervine has an airy-fairy drive at one going across him and is lucky not to get a nick. Beats Ervine’s inside edge as well, just for variety. The batsmen manage to get three singles from the rest of the over.

Meanwhile Ashwin has his finger in a jar of ice on the boundary. The aftereffects of taking that catch off Williams.

Over 31: Zimbabwe 131/4 (Taylor 56, Ervine 3)

Things have naturally slowed down since Williams got out. Just three from Ashwin’s over.

Over 30: Zimbabwe 128/4 (Taylor 55, Ervine 1)

Appeal for caught behind down the legside from Umesh and Dhoni but then umpire says thigh pad. Replays show the umpire was right.

Craig Ervine is the new batsman.

Over 28.3: Zimbabwe 126/4 (Taylor 54)

Ashwin has a go from the other end.

OUT! Williams hammers one straight back at the bowler and Ashwin claims a low catch between his legs. Williams is not convinced and they go upstairs. The third umpire says it is OUT! Ashwin just got his fingers underneath it.

That is a big wicket for India and Ashwin.

Over 28: Zimbabwe 125/3 (Taylor 52, Williams 50)

Taylor brings up his 50 in his last innings for Zimbabwe with a single to the onside. Williams does the same from the next ball. Took Brendan 64 balls and Williams 55. Six from the over.

Dhoni takes off Ashwin and brings back Umesh.

Over 27: Zimbabwe 119/3 (Taylor 49, Williams 48)

After the fireworks, a sedate over from Jadeja. Just two from it.

Can't help admiring Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor......#INDvsZIM

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 14, 2015

Over 26: Zimbabwe 117/3 (Taylor 48, Williams 47)

Williams skips down the track and hammers Ashwin over midwicket for SIX against the spin. Ashwin tosses it up again and again Williams hammers him over midwicket for SIX! Picked it up from outside off too. Forced Kohli, Dhoni and Ashwin to have a pow-wow. Ashwin switches to bowling from round-the-wicket but serves up a full toss and Williams drives him through the covers. Sixteen from the over. Ashwin has bowled 4 overs for 38 runs so far.

Over 25: Zimbabwe 101/3 (Taylor 48, Williams 31)

Taylor brings up Zimbabwe’s hundred with a single. Their second 50 has come from 52 balls.

Over 24: Zimbabwe 98/3 (Taylor 47, Williams 29)

Williams slog-sweeps Ashwin deep into the second tier for SIX! The spinners haven’t got much traction from this pitch. Nine runs from the over. 37 have come form the last 5 overs; 26 from the last 3.

Over 23: Zimbabwe 89/3 (Taylor 46, Williams 21)

Williams reverse-pulls Jadeja powerfully to the point boundary. That short forces Jadeja and Dhoni to have a chat. Runs flowing now.

Over 22: Zimbabwe 82/3 (Taylor 45, Williams 15)

Ashwin gets a second spell. Taylor reverse-sweeps him first ball to the third man boundary. Dhoni glares at the ball as if to say how dare you go to that spot when my fielder is in a different spot. Taylor repeats the feat off the last ball as Dhoni insists on keeping the fielder behind the stumps. Taylor will do this all day if Dhoni lets him.

Over 21: Zimbabwe 72/3 (Taylor 36, Williams 14)

Taylor reverse-sweeps Jadeja to the third man boundary. Suresh Raina is practically behind Dhoni on the rope and so couldn’t get across to cut the ball off. Presumably, Dhoni is worried about cheap runs to the short boundary behind the wicket.

Eight from the over. Jadeja has been the least impressive bowler for India so far.

Over 20: Zimbabwe 64/3 (Taylor 31, Williams 11)

Taylor and Williams looking settled now. They aren’t scoring quickly but singles are to be had and the bowlers look relatively docile.

Over 19: Zimbabwe 61/3 (Taylor 29, Williams 10)

Jadeja bowling quicker now after both batsmen charged him in his last over. Fires now in at 103 kph. Keeps the runs down to two singles

Over 18: Zimbabwe 59/3 (Taylor 28, Williams 9)

Mohit continues after the break. Goes round-the-wicket to Williams. Jadeja keeps the damage down to three runs from the over with a diving stop at point off the last ball.

Time for drinks.

Over 17: Zimbabwe 56/3 (Taylor 26, Williams 8)

Williams chips down the track and drives Jadeja to the long-off boundary to brings up the 50 for Zimbabwe. Taylor follows his partner’s example and lofts Jadeja to the long-on boundary. Shami ran to his left and put in the dive but just failed to get to the ball on the fly and it limped to the rope. Ten from the over, the best yet for Zimbabwe.

Over 16: Zimbabwe 46/3 (Taylor 21, Williams 3)

Mohit continues so just the one over for Ashwin. Spoils a good over with a last ball bouncer that is called wide and a single comes from the extra delivery as well.

Over 15: Zimbabwe 43/3 (Taylor 20, Williams 2)

Better over from Jadeja. Just a single.

Over 14: Zimbabwe 42/3 (Taylor 19, Williams 2)

Mohit Sharma returns from the other end after a one-over break. Looks to have turned his ankle as he trips over the uneven edge of the drop-in pitch. The physio comes out to do some running repairs and Mohit is back on his feet.

DROPPED! Mohit brings the ball back and cuts Williams in a half. The ball takes the inside edge but Dhoni mistimes his dive and the ball hits him on the right wrist.

Amid all this, Mohit concedes no runs from the over.

Over 13: Zimbabwe 42/3 (Taylor 19, Williams 2)

Taylor appears to have settled down and sweep Jadeja from middle stump for four.

Spin from both ends now. Dhoni gives Jadeja the ball.

Over 12: Zimbabwe 36/3 (Taylor 14, Williams1)

Sean Williams is the new batsman. Ashwin is the new bowler. It is an uneventful combination. The batsman add three runs to Zimbabwe’s total by taking three singles.

Time for Ashwin.

Most INTL match as Wkeeper:
MBoucher 466,
Sanga 463,
MS Dhoni 400*,
Gilchrist 391,
IHealy 287,
BMcCullum 278,
Moin Khan 277.#INDvZIM #CWC15

— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 14, 2015

Over 11: Zimbabwe 33/3 (Taylor 12)

Mohit comes on and cheers Mire up by giving the batsman width outside off. Gets cut away for four and then two. Dhoni promptly puts a man at deep point.

OUT! It is false cheer, though. Mire hangs his bat out to the last ball of the over and manages a thin nick through to Dhoni. Mohit didn’t appeal but Mire walked anyway. It is all going India’s way at the moment.

SF Mire c †Dhoni b MM Sharma 9 (22b 1×4 0x6)

Over 10: Zimbabwe 27/2 (Mire 3, Taylor 12)

Ladies and Gentleman, fasten your seatbelts. We have a boundary. Taylor picked up a length delivery from Umesh and dispatched it to the long-off boundary. Eight from the over in all, including a Chinese cut for two that was dragged back just inside the rope. It is a short, short boundary behind Dhoni.

Over 9: Zimbabwe 19/2 (Mire 3, Taylor 4)

A wide is the only damage from Shami’s fifth over. This game isn’t making it easy to stay awake early on a Saturday morning.

Over 8: Zimbabwe 18/2 (Mire 3, Taylor 4)

The string of dot balls ends when Mire turns Umesh through midwicket for a single. That appears to wake Taylor from his slumber and flicks away a delivery on his legs for two. Then picks up two more through the covers.

Over 7: Zimbabwe 13/2 (Mire 2, Taylor 0)

A maiden from Shami. He had Taylor fishing at a couple outside off but couldn’t get a nibble. Taylor struggling early in his final game for his country.

Over 6: Zimbabwe 13/2 (Mire 2, Taylor 0)

A maiden from Umesh. India have Zimbabwe on a tight leash.

Dhawan is the lone slip because Dhoni decided it was time for his favourite leg-slip.

OUT! Good catch from Dhawan. Shami bowls it fuller and gets rewarded as Chibhabha goes for the drive and nicks it to Dhawan, the lone slip. He moves sharply to his right to take the catch two-handed.

CJ Chibhabha c Dhawan b Mohammed Shami 7 (16b 1×4 0x6)

Zimbabwe 13/2 after 4.3 overs

Over 4: Zimbabwe 13/1 (Chibhaha 7, Mire 2)

Mire flicks Umesh through backward square leg for two runs off his first delivery.

Over 3.3: Zimbabwe 11/1 (Chibhabha 7)

OUT! Umesh strikes. Full and seams away. Big nick to Dhoni.

H Masakadza c †Dhoni b Yadav 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Over 3: Zimbabwe 11/0 (Chibhabha 7, Masakadza 2)

Chibhabha cuts one past offstump and Dhoni to the boundary. Streaky way to get Zimbabwe’s fist boundary. Shami raps Chibhabha on the pads a couple of times and there is one loud shot for LBW but the umpire is unmoved.

Shami bowling a touch too short on this pitch so far.

Over 2: Zimbabwe 6/0 (Chibhabha 3, Masakadza 1)

There is some movement for the bowlers so Dhoni has two slips and a gully for Umesh. They don’t have to do much though. Three runs from the over – a single to fine leg and a two behind square.

Over 1: Zimbabwe 3/0 (Chibhabha 1, Masakadza 0)

Three runs from the off but just one from the bat. A leg-bye and a wide being the other runs. Shami ends the over with a nice away swinger that beats Masakadza’s prod outside off.

Mohammed Shami gets the game going.

Here are the playing XIs:

Zimbabwe: C Chibhabha, S Raza, S Mire, H Masakadza, B Taylor, S Williams, C Ervine, R Chakabva, T Panyangara, T Mupariwa, T Chatara,

India: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, A Rahane, S Raina, MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, M Sharma, M Shami, U Yadav

68.6 - Mohammed Shami (68.6%) has the highest dot ball percentage at #CWC15, 50+ balls bowled. M. Starc (67.5%) has 2nd highest. Respected.

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) March 14, 2015

Both sides are unchanged.

Taylor: Against a side like India, you have to play with freedom. Want to finish the tournament in a way people will remember.

Dhoni: Lot of improvement since the Tri-series. This is one of the best fielding sides I have seen.

India have won the toss and will bowl first. Dhoni said the wicket will remain the same and the short boundaries give them a good shot at chasing.

This is also Brendan Taylor’s last game for Zimbabwe.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of India’s final group game. There is nothing at stake in this game so it gives India a chance to just ease up a bit. Not that they will take Zimbabwe lightly but that they can relax and take the pressure off.