At Cuttack, December 2. India won by three wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe. International debut: R. S. Sodhi.
The one-day series opener witnessed the emergence of the Tamil Nadu left-hander, Badani, who scored a decisive 58 in 69 balls. Put in on a newly laid pitch, Zimbabwe benefited from half a dozen dropped catches, while an unbeaten 91 from Carlisle, who added 115 with Campbell, led them to a respectable 253. India were penalised one over for a slow over-rate, but Ganguly and Tendulkar set out in clinical fashion to keep them up with the run-rate, amassing 102 in 20 overs. And when a familiar middle-order collapse followed their departure, leaving India desperate at 144 for five, Badani inspired a rare late-order revival. He added 60 in ten overs with Dahiya and 50 in six with Agarkar to bring victory with ten balls to spare.
Man of the Match: H. K. Badani.

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