India easily brush aside Zimbabwe

India collected their first points in the four-nation Singer World Series one-day limited overs cricket tournament yesterday when they comfortably beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets.

Powered by 68 from their opening bat Ajay Jadeja, and excellent leg-spin bowling by Anil Kumble, who captured four wickets for 33, India passed Zimbabwe's total of 226 with six overs to spare.

Jadeja and his skipper Sachin Tendulkar provided India with a good start, hitting 91 in the first 15 overs. The fast outfield gave the fielders little chance of stopping the flow of boundaries and Zimbabwe's total was made to look small in the face of the onslaught from the Indian openers.

Tendulkar was out for 40 to a bad shot when he tried to pull Heath Streak from outside off stump, only to see it end up in midwicket's hands. Sourav Ganguly and Mohammed Azharuddin kept up the momentum with 36 and 40 not out before Vinod Kambli (29 not out) put the finishing touches to the match with his fourth boundary.