NEW DELHI: Zimbabwe's experienced batsman Sikandar Raza almost denied Team India a 3-0 scoreline against Zimbabwe on Monday. The dangerous and well-settled Raza brought up his sixth ODI century, but with Zimbabwe on 275/8, needing 15 more runs to win, Raza fell to a tricky knuckleball by Shardul Thakur.
With 15 needed off 9 balls, Raza, who scored a brilliant 115 off 95 balls, looked to heave Shardul over long-on but failed to connect. Shubman Gill, who was fielding towards long on, ran, dived and plucked a blinder to show Raza the way back to the pavillion. Raza's knock was studded with nine fours and three maximums. He almost won the game for the men in red.
Shubman, who was adjudged Man of the Match in the third ODI for his astonishing 130 off 97 balls, including 15 fours and 1 six, rushed to a departing Raza and gave him a pat on his back. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 276, which handed India a 13-run win over the hosts and a 3-0 clean sweep victory.
Born in Sialkot (in Pakistan) in 1986, Raza was Zimbabwe's highest-run getter in the match and the third overall in the three-match ODI series. He scored 143 runs in 3 matches at an average of 47.67.
The 36-year-old Raza, who made his international debut in 2013 vs Bangladesh in Bulawayo, has played 17 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 58 T20Is for Zimbabwe, scoring 1187, 3626, and 1040 runs, respectively.
Sikandar Raza (AFP Photo)
He made his international debut across all three formats for Zimbabwe in 2013. With 3626 runs in ODIs, Raza is currently Zimbabwe's eighth highest run getter in ODI cricket overall.
Raza is a batting all-rounder and is also a right arm off-break bowler. He has 131 international wickets to his name. He has also played a lot of T20 franchise cricket across the world.
SIKANDAR RAZA'S INTERNATIONAL BATTING CAREER:
