Harare: After guiding his side to a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second T20, Indian opener Mandeep Singh on Monday said his side focused on implementing the plans rather than the result, which helped them level the three-match series 1-1 at Harare Sports Club.
Mandeep (52) smashed his maiden T20 half-century and shared an unbeaten 103-run opening stand with KL Rahul in their side's chase of 100-run target.
We were thinking about to focus on our process rather than thinking too much about the result. Obviously, we want to win the series, but if we always think about winning then it will be like building up pressure. So we were trying to focus on the process. We have played five games now on this wicket. We discussed few points and I think we have implemented it today really well. So that was the main thing," Mandeep told the media following the win.
Admitting that the two-run defeat in the series opener was 'hurting', the 24-year-old said that his side discussed on their weaknesses after the previous game and worked upon them.
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Obviously that defeat was hurting, but we discussed a few points that what we need to do and I think whatever we have discussed in that previous game we have implemented today," he added.
Meanwhile, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni credited the bowlers for the crucial win.
Bowlers started it all, important to start well. I was a bit worried that it was the third match on the same wicket. Backed by some good fielding, I emphasised that we hard to run harder than we did in the last game. In the shorter format, it is very important," he said.
Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe batsmen failed to counter India's attack and were restricted to cheaply 99 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Peter Moor (31), who replaced Richmond Mutumbami in the second match, was the highest scorer for the hosts.
Indian seamers Barinder Sran and Jasprit Bumrah shared seven wickets between them while Dhawal Kulkarni and Yuzvendra Chahal chipped in with a wicket each.
Sran, who was drafted into the Indian squad following their embarrassing two-run defeat in the series opener, marked his T20 debut with figures of four for 10 in his quota of four overs. He recorded the second-best figures by a debutant in T20I cricket.
Meanwhile, Bumrah dismissed top scorer Moor and Elton Chigumbura (eight) to finish with figures of three for 11.
In reply, opener Rahul, who got dismissed for a duck in his T20 debut in the opening match, did not miss the opportunity and smashed a superb 47-run unbeaten knock to help his side chade down the target with 41 balls to spare.
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The two sides will next lock horns at the same venue for the final T20 on Wednesday.
