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HYDERABAD (India), March 16: Young left-hander Yuvraj Singh smashed an unbeaten 80 from 60 deliveries to power India to a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-dayer Saturday, levelling the five-match series at 2-2.
The 21-year-old lashed eight fours and a six in a brilliant exhibition of powerful hitting as India raced to their 241-run victory target, reaching 244 for five in 48.1 overs.
Yuvraj and Mohammad Kaif, who anchored the innings to score 68 from 101 balls for his second successive 50, shared a 94-run partnership for the fifth wicket after the hosts were in early trouble at 56 for three.
Kaif, who added 76 with Rahul Dravid (32) for the fourth wicket to revive the innings, was run out in the 47th over.
Earlier, the dependable Andy Flower top-scored with 89 to lift Zimbabwe to 240 for eight in 50 overs after skipper Stuart Carlisle, chasing victory to seal the series, chose to bat first.
The 33-year-old showed no ill-effects from a hip strain suffered earlier, as he shared partnerships of 66 for the third wicket with Dion Ebrahim (38) and another 96 off only 107 with his brother Grant (44).
ZIMBABWE:
A.D.R. Campbell c Dravid b Agarkar 3
D.D. Ebrahim c Dravid b Ganguly 38
T.J. Friend c Ratra b Agarkar 0
A. Flower c Ratra b Zaheer 89
G.W. Flower c Mongia b Harbhajan 44
S.V. Carlisle b Agarkar 40
H.H. Streak b Zaheer 10
D.A. Marillier c Laxman b Agarkar 1
T. Taibu not out 3
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-7, NB-2) 12
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 240
FALL OF WKTS: 1-13, 2-13, 3-79, 4-175, 5-190, 6-220, 7-223, 8-240.
DID NOT BAT: D.T. Hondo, M. Mbangwa.
BOWLING: Zaheer Khan 10-0-58-2 (1nb, 2w); Agarkar 10-2-32-4 (2w); Harbhajan Singh 10-0-44-1; Ganguly 9-0-36-1 (2w); Kartik 8-0-47-0 (1w); Mongia 3-0-20-0 (1nb).
INDIA:
D. Mongia c Campbell b Friend 30
S.C. Ganguly c G. Flower b Hondo 7
V.V.S. Laxman c Taibu b Friend 13
R.S. Dravid b G. Flower 32
M. Kaif run out 68
Yuvraj Singh not out 80
A.B. Agarkar not out 5
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-2, W-6) 9
TOTAL (for five wkts, 48.1 overs) 244
FALL OF WKTS: 1-30, 2-50, 3-56, 4-132, 5-226.
DID NOT BAT: A. Ratra, Harbhajan Singh, M. Kartik, Zaheer Khan.
BOWLING: Streak 8-0-36-0 (2w); Hondo 8-0-48-1 (3w); Friend 8.1-1-42-2 (1w); Mbangwa 8-1-27-0; Marillier 8-0-47-0; G.W. Flower 8-0-41-1.
FINAL MATCH: Guwahati, Tuesday.—Reuters
