Zimbabwe have shown over the years the ability to surprise fancied opponents. But India had won their previous 10 encounters against Zimbabwe and Suresh Raina, leading the Indian side for the first time, would have been confident of extending the good run.

However, none of India’s main bowlers could derail the Zimbabwe chase, which benefited from two half-centuries and a few cameos. A 88-run partnership between openers Hamilton Mazakadza and Brendan Taylor set the tone for the Zimbabwe innings. Taylor made 81 off 103 balls while Masakadza contributed with 46 off 43. The flair at the finish was provided by a 58-run partnership between Craig Ervine and Elton Chigumbura.

By the end of it all, the Indians looked a ragged bunch. It didn’t help that Ashok Dinda and Umesh Yadav, both debutantes, went wicketless. With an aim of picking the best squad for the World Cup early next year, the Indian selectors rested weary seniors and opted for a young team. Barring an out-of-form Irfan Pathan and medium pacer Munaf Patel, the best of the rest were part of Raina’s squad which took the field.

Coach Gary Kirsten, on the eve of the game, had said that the tri-series was a golden opportunity for some of the youngsters to book their place in the World Cup squad. But in the absence of the regulars, the Indian bowling lacked teeth in this opening match. Raina used seven bowlers but as a unit they failed to put pressure on the hosts.

India were in a spot of bother at 61 for three but a maiden century from Rohit Sharma and an unbeaten half-century by Ravindra Jadeja, two of the players involved in a pub brawl during India’s forgettable World Twenty20 campaign in the West Indies, saved the blushes. They added 132 for the fifth wicket.

It was a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket between captain Raina and Sharma that ensured India could retain hopes of a competitive total after the early setback that saw Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik depart in a span of six runs.

Taylor hit Vinay Kumar for two sixes and a four in the 10th over and the partnership was blooming with a century in sight when Amit Mishra’s googly castled Masakadza. Indian bowlers toiled for another 16 overs without any success before Jadeja trapped Graeme Lamb (27).

Taylor was looking good for a century but fell to Vinay Kumar in the 35th over after a 103-ball knock that had four fours and two sixes in it. Charles Coventry (32 off 25 balls) played like his wont, hitting Yusuf Pathan, Mishra and Vinay Kumar out of the ground before losing his stumps to the pacer. Ervine, however, showed tremendous maturity in his debut match as he played a vital role in Zimbabwe finishing off the game with 10 balls and six wickets to spare.

Bowlers let us down: Raina

Meanwhile, skipper Suresh Raina blamed his inexperienced bowlers for the debacle. “Unfortunately, we didn’t bowl well today. Some of the bowlers were playing for the first time. Hopefully they can learn from our mistakes and move one from here,” Raina said.

While pacemen Dinda, Yadav and Kumar went for runs, Raina said the slow bowlers did a better job. “In the first six overs, we didn’t bowl well. (Amit) Mishra and (Ravindra) Jadeja then bowled well and we made a comeback. But they had a powerplay left and couple of their players played well, which cost us the game,” Raina explained.