Colombo : Pacer Piyush Salvi conceded 12 wides in an over of 16 deliveries but that eventually did not matter in the end as India thrashed Zimbabwe by 136 runs to storm into the summit clash of Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals here on Thursday.
India, represented by Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Commerce from Pune, rode on a fine unbeaten 133 from captain Subham Nagawade to post 244 for two in their allotted 20 overs after electing to bat.
Opener Nagawade, who is also the wicketkeeper, smashed four boundaries and as many as 15 sixes during his 67-ball blitzkrieg as he carried his bat through the 20-over innings in his side’s final league match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground.
Nagawade on Thursday became the only centurion of the tournament. Chasing a huge target of 245 for an improbable win, Zimbabwe, represented by the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, could score just 109 for 9 from 20 overs to crash out of the tournament after finishing at the bottom of the six-team league table.
For India, Shubham Taiswal took four wickets for nine runs to emerge as the top bowler. India, who topped the league table with 10 points after winning all their five matches, straightway made it to the final to be played on September 29.