ZIMBABWE WIN BY 2 RUNS!

India 168-6 (20 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Zimbabwe upset India by two runs in a thrilling finish in the first T20 International in Harare, on Saturday.

Put into bat, Zimbabwe hit 170 for six with Elton Chigumbura hitting a quickfire 54 from 26 balls.

In reply, India managed 168 for six despite captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni staying unbeaten till the end as he made 19 from 17 balls.

Superb bowling from Zimbabwe in the final overs as compared to India's bowlers, who went for a lot of runs.

A rare instance for India as Dhoni stayed till the end but failed to finish off the match as he hit just a single boundary in his 17-ball knock.

Manish Pandey top scored with a quickfire 48 from 35 balls but his dismissal saw India lose the momentum.

After being whitewashed 3-0 in the ODI series, a superb comeback from Zimbabwe as they take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.

India 168-6 (20 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Axar's quickfire innings of 18 from eight balls has put India in the driver's seat with Dhoni looking his usual calm self on 16 from 14 balls at the other end and not needing much to do at the moment.

Madziva to bowl the final over. Dhoni smashes the first ball to long-off for a single, to make it seven needed from five balls.

Madziva keeps Zimbabwe in the hunt with the wicket of Axar, who is caught at long-off after a cameo of 18 from nine balls.

Dhoni on strike with India needing seven from four balls for victory.

The India captain can't make most of a low full toss as he drives it to the covers for just a single, six needed from three balls for victory.

Debutant Rishi Dhawan on strike, will he take a single or have a go?

Dhawan shuffles across but is beaten by a superb yorker from Madziva. The equation gets tougher for India with six needed from two balls for victory.

Dhawan shuffles across and swings it on the leg side but misses again and this time the umpire calls it a wide, five needed from two balls.

He carves the fifth ball to thirdman for just a single to bring Dhoni back on strike with four runs needed from the last ball for victory.

Dhoni gets just a single from the last ball as India lose by two runs.

India 163-5 (19 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Tiripano to bowl the 19th over. He starts with a short ball but Dhoni hits it straight to the fielder at deep square leg and gets just a single.

Axar throws his bat at a wide delivery but fails to make connection. But he gets a much-needed four off the next ball as he drives the next ball square on the off-side.

Tiripano bowls a good yorker wide of the off-stump which Patel misses. The left-hander shuffles across and lofts it on the leg side for two runs.

Axar delivers a crucial blow off the last ball smashing it straight back over the bowler's head for a six.

Tiripano goes for 13 runs in the over, leaving India to get just eight from the last over.

India 150-5 (18 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Muzarabani comes back and gets the wicket of Pandey, who goes for a big hit but is caught on the off-side after a good innings of 48 from 35 balls.

That is a big strike for Zimbabwe as India were looking to run away with the match.

And Dhoni will now have to shoulder the responsibility with just the lower order for company.

Axar Patel starts off with a dot ball before he swings a length ball from the pacer over long-on for a six. That was a very important strike for India as it brings the equation down to 21 from 13 balls.

Axar hits another good drive but can't beat the fielder in the covers.

Zimbabwe have the slight upperhand with 21 needed from two overs for victory but India have Dhoni, who is master at finishing run chases.

India 142-4 (17 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Madziva comes into the attack. He struggles with his control, bowling two successive wides to Dhoni, who then takes one on the off-side.

Pandey pulls a short ball through midwicket for a four to race to 43 from 29 balls and then takes a single as he chases a very wide delivery.

Dhoni clips the fifth ball to deep midwicket for two runs as India keep collecting the runs without any problem at all. A single from the last ball makes it 12 runs from the 16th over with India needing 41 from last four overs.

When the boundaries are not coming Dhoni ensures that the scoreboard keeps moving with ones and twos. With a young Pandey for company, Dhoni is doing well to convert the singles into twos with some swift running between the wickets.

Tiripano follows it up with two wides down the leg side to Pandey, a poor line considering that fine leg is inside the circle.

Another wide down the leg side to Dhoni as the keeper fumbles to give away two more extra runs.

12 runs from the over takes India to 142 for four in 17 overs, with 29 needed from three overs for victory.

India 118-4 (15 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Pandey decides to cut loose and bring the asking run rate back under control. He goes after Zimbabwe captain Cremer as he lofts him for back to back sixes to get 16 runs from the 14th over.

Infact, Dhoni has a close shave off the last ball as he went for a quick second run but the bowler fails to collect the ball with the India captain struggling to make his crease after he slipped slightly after turning for the second run.

Pandey has a lot of experience of playing T20 cricket courtesy of the IPL and he is playing a good hand, having hit 34 from 24 balls with three sixes so far.

India still have a huge task on hand, with 63 needed from the last six overs for victory.

Dhoni as usual will take his time to get going and the onus will be on Pandey to keep the boundaries coming till then.

Dhoni comes down the track to Muzarabani and pulls it to deep square leg for one before Pandey steers it square on the off-side for two runs.

Dhoni steers a short ball past short thirdman for his first boundary as the runs continue to flow with the momentum firmly back with the Indians.

India are 118 for four in 15 overs, with 53 runs needed from five overs for victory.

India 92-4 (13 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

This time Jadhav goes on the attack as he chips down the track and lofts Raza down the ground for a huge six as another ball goes out of the ground.

India will need more of the boundaries to keep up with the asking rate which is hovering above the 10-runs per over mark.

Jadhav comes down the track and slaps Cremer through the covers for a four as the leg-spinner drops short and gives a bit of width.

Both Pandey and Jadhav doing well to keep the scoreboard moving as 29 runs have come from the last three overs.

But India suffer another blow as Muzarabani gets the wicket of Jadhav, who drags one back on to his stumps to be bowled for 19.

Finally, Mahendra Singh Dhoni gets a bat in Zimbabwe. The first ball is defended on the off-side before the India captain gets a single to sweeper cover to get off the mark.

Superb over from Muzarabani, giving away just three runs while also taking a wicket.

India are 92 for four in 13 overs, with another 79 runs needed from seven overs for victory at an asking rate of over 11.

India 69-3 (10 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Part-time off-spinner Sikandar Raza comes into the attack. He starts with three dot balls to Mandeep before three singles come from the last three balls of the over.

Chibhabha slips one down the leg side which Mandeep flicks past short fine leg for a four and gets two runs from the next ball to midwicket.

But Chibhabha strikes again in his next over. Mandeep looks to play the inside out lofted shot but gets it off the inside half of the bat as Mutumbodzi comes up with a brilliant catch diving forward at long-on.

Mandeep walks back for 31 to leave India in trouble at 53 for three in the eighth over.

Two new batsman out in the middle for India in Pandey and Kedar Jadhav, both of them didn't get to bat in the ODI series. Infact, Pandey faced just one delivery in the three matches while Jadhav didn't face a single ball.

India need a partnership from the two batsmen and set up things in the final few overs for the lower order which also includes captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Raza bowling to his field without trying much and has given away just eight runs in his two overs.

Spin from both ends now as captain and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer comes into the attack. With the required run rate going above 10, India will need to take a few risks and keep things under control.

Pandey goes after Cremer straight away as he lofts the first ball straight back over his head for a six. But the leggie does well to give away just three runs from the rest of the over.

India are 69 for three in 10 overs, needing 102 from the remaining 10 overs for victory.

India 44-2 (6 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Muzarabani, who dropped the catch in the previous over, comes into the attack now. He starts with a loosener, short and wide, which Rayudu cuts through point for a four.

Two balls later, Rayudu comes down goes after a full delivery but gets a thick outside edge which goes over short thirdman for another four as the pacer goes for 10 runs in his first over.

Another bowling change for Zimbabwe as Chibhabha comes into the attack. Mandeep makes room and plays a nice drive through the covers for a four before he takes a single.

Chibhabha makes the breakthrough for Zimbabwe with the key wicket of Rayudu, who is bowled for 19.

Rayudu comes down the track and has a wild swing but misses the ball completely as the ball crashes on to his stumps.

Manish Pandey taps the first ball on the leg side before he has a slight misunderstanding with non-striker Mandeep, who does well to slide his bat in time before the fielder at midwicket got the direct hit.

A good contest on the cards as India are reduced to 44 for two in six overs, with another 127 runs needed from 14 overs for victory at an asking rate of nine.

India 29-1 (4 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

Tiripano bowls another good over, conceding just three runs as Zimbabwe look to build the pressure with some tight bowling in the early overs.

Mandeep chips Madziva over midwicket for two runs and repeats the shot two balls later but ends up chipping it high on the leg side. It lobs high in the air but the fielder at long-on can't hold on despite having enough time on hand to judge it. That could prove to be a costly drop for the hosts as Muzarabani puts down the easiest of chances.

Mandeep rubs more salts on the bowler Madziva's wounds as he hammers the last two balls of the overs for successive boundaries as India recover to 29 for one in four overs.

India 13-1 (2 ovs ) vs Zim 170-6 | Scorecard

India suffer a big blow in the first over of their run chase as the in-form KL Rahul is dismissed for a duck off the first ball of their innings by pacer Donald Tiripano.

Rahul was the first Indian to score a century on his ODI debut but falls off the first delivery he faces in T20 Internationals.

He looks to run it to thirdman but gets an inside edge back on to his stumps as India lose an early wicket.

Ambati Rayudu clobbers the fourth ball over mid-on to get India off the mark with a four and smashes the last ball for another four.

Mandeep Singh drives Madziva through the covers in the next over as he also gets off the mark with a four.

India are 13 for one in two overs.

Zim 170-6 (20 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Zimbabwe have decided to go after Chahal it looks like. First Cremer lofts the first ball down the ground for only a single to long-off before Chigumbura smashes it over the covers for a six.

He repeats the shot off the fifth ball of the over for another maximum as Chahal gives away 15 runs in his final over to finish with one for 38 in four overs.

Bumrah comes back and strikes with the first delivery of his third over. Cremer tries to go on the attack but ends up slicing a simple catch to Dhawan at mid-off to be dismissed for four.

A good over again from Bumrah, giving away just four runs, in the 18th over while picking up a wicket.

Left-arm Unadkat comes back, to bowl the penultimate over. Chigumbura throws his bat at a wide delivery as he gets a thick outside edge over thirdman for a four. The next ball is in the slot as Chigumbura hammers it over long-on for a massive six as it lands on the roof, before taking a couple of bounces to go out of the stadium.

Unadkat tries the slower ball which Chigumbura slaps through the covers for two runs. He tries to bowl wide yorkers but ends up bowling two successive wides as Zimbabwe benefit with some easy runs.

He drops short as Chigumbura pulls it over midwicket and once again sends it flying outside the ground for another big six, he has smashed his way to 48 from 22 balls, while taking Zimbabwe past the 150-run mark.

A poor last over from Unadkat, as he concedes 21 runs in his final over to finish with 43 runs from four overs.

Even Bumrah comes under attack, in the final over. Chigumbura hits a low full toss straight down the ground and just about gets it over long-off for a six, he has six sixes in his 48.

Another low full toss as Chigumbura looks for the flick fine on the leg side but fails to connect and gets a leg bye.

The right-hander pulls the fifth ball over midwicket for a six to bring up his fifty in grand style, from 25 balls.

Chigumbura finishes unbeaten on a cracking innings of 54 from 26 balls to power Zimbabwe to a healthy 170 for six in their 20 overs.

Zimbabwe exploded towards the end, hitting a lot of boundaries in the last five overs, courtesy of Chigumbura, who hammered seven sixes and a four in his 26-ball knock. They smashed 59 runs from the last five overs, including 36 runs from the last two overs.

Zim 115-5 (16 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Chahal oversteps in his third over to give away a no-ball and also a free hit. Elton Chigumbura smashes the free hit over long-off for a six to lift Zimbabwe and release some pressure.

The wickets continue to fall for Zimbabwe as Mutombodzi has a go at Axar but ends up holing out an easy catch to Dhawan at long-off to walk back for three.

Captain Graeme Cremer attempts a risky reverse as he gets only a single to thirdman.

Axar finishes with good figures of one for 18 in four overs with Zimbabwe reduced to 115 for five in 16 overs.

Zim 100-4 (14 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Waller goes after Chahal as he lofts him over the covers for a boundary but the leg-spinner gets revenge a few deliveries later.

Waller goes back but fails to pick the googly and is bowled after a good innings of 30 from 21 balls.

Zimbabwe are dealt another blow as Raza is run out after a misunderstanding with new batsman Tinotenda Mutombodzi.

Those two wickets see Zimbabwe being reduced to 100 for four in 14 overs.

Zim 91-2 (12 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack, to bowl the 11th over. Four singles from the first four balls before Waller steers it past point for two runs. Axar misfields off the last ball to give away another two runs as Chahal goes for eight in his first over.

A much better showing with the bat by Zimbabwe in the first T20 match as compared to the ODI series, when they failed to put up good scores.

Dhawan comes back, to bowl his fourth and final over. He bowls another poor delivery, short and wide as Waller smashes it through point for a four before the pacer bowls a leg side wide. The next ball is again down the leg side but it flicks Waller's pads and he gets away with the wide.

He throws his bat at the next ball but gets a thick outside edge which goes between point and short thirdman for a four.

A poor outing with the ball for Dhawan on his T20I debut as he ends with expensive figures of one for 42 in four overs.

Zimbabwe are looking on course for a good score as they reach 91 for two in 12 overs.

Zim 72-2 (10 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Spin introduced in the form of Axar Patel, who nearly strikes with his second delivery. Malcolm Waller gets a thick outside edge which flies past KL Rahul at first slip, who is unable to react in time as it goes for a boundary.

In the next over, Raza hits a wide delivery from Dhawan past point for a four as Zimbabwe manage to keep the momentum despite the loss of their openers.

Debut Dhawan has been quite erratic and struggled with his length. Another short ball as this time Raza pulls it through midwicket for another boundary as Dhawan concedes 10 runs in his third over, he has given away 31 runs in three overs while taking a wicket.

Waller inside edges Axar as it nearly chops back on to the stumps. The next ball is short and wide as Waller chops it over the off-side for two runs as Dhoni yells a loud 'nahiiii'.

After 10 overs, Zimbabwe are well placed on 72 for two with Raza on 16 from 12 balls and Waller on 10 from as many balls.

Zim 50-2 (7 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Mutumbami has walk off the field with injury as he is struck on the hips by a slower short ball from Unadkat. Sikandar Raza is the new batsman as he gets off the mark with one before Chibhabha ends the over with a cracking straight drive.

Dhoni continues to juggle his pacers around as Dhawan comes back into the attack.

He continues to suffer as Chibhabha smashes a wide delivery through the off-side for a four and then gets two from the next ball through point.

However, Dhawan has the last laugh in the end as he bowls Chibhabha for 20. The right-hander is foxed all ends up by the slower ball as he attempts to slog it across the line but makes no connection.

Zimbabwe are reduced to 50 for two in seven overs.

Zim 33-1 (5 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Jasprit Bumrah is called into the attack, replacing Unadkat, who bowled just one over with the new ball.

Chibhabha makes his intents clear rightaway as he comes down the track and lofts the pacer over long-on for his first four.

The pacer then bowls a good yorker which Chibhabha keeps out before taking a single and Masakadza gets one from the last ball.

Change of ends for Unadkat, who takes over from Dhawan, who is taken off after an expensive first over.

Masakadza keen to continue his positive approach. He lofts a slower ball from Unadkat and hits it high over long-on for a six, his second of the innings.

Two balls later Masakadza takes on the short ball from the pacer as he pulls it over square leg for the second six of the over.

Another good over for the hosts as Unadkat goes for 13 in his second over as Zimbabwe race to 33 for no loss in four overs.

Bumrah checks Zimbabwe's flying start with the wicket of Masakadza, who is caught behind by wicketkeeper Dhoni. The right-hander, who smashed 25 from 15 balls, shuffles across and tries to paddle it fine on the leg side but gets a top edge and is caught behind.

Bumrah bowls a good first delivery first up to new batsman Richmond Mutumbami, who is beaten outside the off-stump as he has a nervous poke.

There is a huge appeal for a catch down the leg side against Mutumbami but the umpire turns it down as Bumrah ends a superb over, a wicket maiden.

Zim 14-0 (2 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat will open the bowling for India, while Chamu Chibhabha and Hamilton Masakadza are the two openers for the hosts.

Unadkat makes a good start with a good yorker which Chibhabha keeps out before he defends the next on the off-side.

He gets off the mark with a risky single to square leg as the fielder misses the direct hit with Masakadza struggling to make his crease. The right-hander then plays a rash paddle sweep over the short fine leg fielder but fails to make connection and takes a leg bye.

Rishi Dhawan to bowl the second over. The second ball is short as Masakadza pulls it over midwicket for a six, that was the freebie by the medium pacer.

Two singles before Masakadza plays an elegant drive through the covers for a four as Dhawan goes for 12 runs in his first over.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the toss and elected to bowl against Zimbabwe in the first T20 International.

So India have opted to bench Dhawal Kulkarni, Barinder Sran, Karun Nair, Faiz Fazal as they aim to give the other players a look-in, who hardly got an opportunity in the ODI series.

Welcome to the coverage of the first Twenty20 International between Zimbabwe and India at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, on Saturday.

India will be handing T20 International debuts to five players -- KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rishi Dhawan and Jaydev Unadkat as the players are handed their India caps before the toss.