Auckland :
Before four weeks, no one have imagined the way Indian team is performing in the World Cup. The defending champs are on right path to defend the World title. Riding on the Suresh Raina’s century, India beat spirited Zimbabwe after the in-form Indian top-order collapsed. India were chasing a daunting 288 runs to win against Zimbabwe. India finished top of the table by winning all its league matches.
In the process, India chased down their highest score in a World Cup match and stamped their supremacy by winning 10th consecutive match on the trot. MS Dhoni is second on the list after Ricky Pointing surpassing Clive Lloyd to record straight win.
The Men in Blue are scheduled to meet its South Asian neighbours Bangladesh in quarters at MCG on March 19.
India were reeling at 92 for four when captain cool Dhoni joined Raina to switch a 196-run record partnership to rescue India. Out of form, Raina scored his fifth ODI ton with the help of nine fours and four sixes.
The stylish left hander was put down by Hamilton Masakadza at short fine leg when he was on 47 which changed the course of the game. MS Dhoni played a supporting role to score 85 of 76-balls.
Earlier in the day, Brendan Taylor played gem of an innings to score 138 of 110-balls. The right hander who was playing his last match for Zimbabwe became the first and only Zimbabwe batsman to score back-to-back hundreds in a World Cup. He became the first Zimbabwean to score more than 400 run in a World Cup.
The spinners were on the receiving end as Taylor, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams scored heavily.
Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja gave away 146 runs in their 20 overs, claiming only one wicket. The pace trio performed once again, as young Mohit Sharma, Md Shami, Umesh Yadav claimed three wickets each.
