HARARE: An unbeaten century from debutant opener Lokesh Rahul steered India to an easy nine-wicket victory over hosts Zimbabwe in the first Ine-day International here on Saturday.

Rahul smashed a six off the last ball of the innings to finish on 100 not out from 115 balls and complete a dream debut.

India won the toss and sent Zimbabwe in to bat, restricting the home side to 168 all out one ball short of their 50 overs.

They were measured in their response but always in front of the rate and reached 173 for one wicket with 45 balls to spare.

The tourists lost another debutant, Karun Nair (seven), early on but an unbeaten 162-run second-wicket stand between Rahul and Ambati Rayudu (62 not out) made it an easy chase.

Zimbabwe had earlier struggled from the start of their innings as a cautious approach failed to stop them losing wickets at regular intervals.

Former captain Elton Chigumbura top-scored with 41 and seamer Jasprit Bumrah proved the pick of the Indian bowlers with four for 28 from 9.5 overs.

The second game in the three-match series is at the same venue on Monday.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE:

P. Moor lbw b Sran3

C. Chibhabha b Bumrah13

H. Masakadza c Dhoni b Kulkarni14

C. Ervine c sub b A. Patel21

V. Sibanda c Dhoni b Bumrah5

S. Raza b Sran23

E. Chigumbura b Bumrah41

R. Mutumbami c Rahul b Chahal15

G. Cremer b Kulkarni8

T. Chatara c Rayudu b Bumrah4

T. Muzarabani not out1

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-3, W-14)20

TOTAL (all out, 49.5 overs)168

FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-30, 3-47, 4-69, 5-77, 6-115, 7-140, 8-156, 9-167.

BOWLING: D. Kulkarni 10-1-42-2 (1w); B. Sran 10-0-42-2 (6w); J. Bumrah 9.5-2-28-4 (3nb, 2w); A. Patel 10-1-26-1 (1w); Y. Chahal 10-1-27-1.

INDIA:

L. Rahul not out100

K. Nair c Raza b Chatara7

A. Rayudu not out62

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3)4

TOTAL (for one wkt, 42.3 overs)173

FALL OF WKT: 1-11.

DID NOT BAT: M. Pandey, K. Jadhav, M. Dhoni, A. Patel, D. Kulkarni, J. Bumrah, B. Sran, Y. Chahal.

BOWLING: T. Chatara 7-1-20-1; T. Muzarabani 6-0-18-0; C. Chibhabha 8-1-14-0 (1w); G. Cremer 10-0-47-0; E. Chigumbura 4-0-34-0 (2w); S. Raza 5-0-20-0; H. Masakadza 2.3-0-19-0.

RESULT: India won by nine wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Lokesh Rahul

UMPIRES: Ian Gould (England), Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe)

TV UMPIRE: Jeremiah Matibiri (Zimbabwe)

MATCH REFEREE: Richie Richardson (West Indies)

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2016