HARARE: Zimbabwe held its nerve to beat India by two runs in the first Twenty20 on Saturday as Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to hit a four off the last ball for the win.

Zimbabwe seamer Neville Madziva conceded just five off the last over, and removed the dangerous-looking Axar Patel, as India fell short of the home team's 170-6.

Chigumbura pummelled seven sixes as he took Zimbabwe to 170 for six in their 20 overs having been sent into bat by the tourists.

India lost opener Lokesh Rahul on his Twenty20 debut in the first ball of their reply, but they went into the final over from seamer Neville Madziva needing eight to win.

That was reduced to four off the last ball with Mahendra Singh Dhoni on strike, but he could only bludgeon the ball to deep point and Zimbabwe celebrated a second consecutive victory over India in the 20-over format.

Aside from Chigumbura, Malcolm Waller (30 from 21 balls) and opener Hamilton Masakadza (25 from 15 balls) gave Zimbabwe their highest score against India in Twenty20 cricket.

India were behind the run-rate for much of their innings, but Manish Pandey (48 from 35 balls) kept them in the hunt until the last over.

With Dhoni on strike it looked like advantage to the tourists, but Madziva bowled a succession of excellent yorkers to limit India to five runs.

India ended on 168-6. Zimbabwe's total was set up by 54 not out off 26 balls from Elton Chigumbura and 30 from Malcolm Waller.

Manish Pandey made 48 for India, which easily won the one-day series 3-0 and was expected to continue its dominance in the three-match T20 series.

Aside from Rahul, the visitors handed 20-over debuts to batsman Mandeep Singh, seamer Jaydev Unadkat, all-rounder Rishi Dhawan and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

The second Twenty20 match will be played at the same venue on Monday.