Zimbabwe caused an upset in the very first ODI of the tri-series by beating India rather easily by six wickets and with ten balls to spare. What was even more commendable was that Zimbabwe chased down the target that was 286, something that they had never done before. 
Batting first, the Indians were off to a terrible start, as they lost Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli off successive overs to run-outs. Dinesh Karthik made a 22, but when he was consumed by Prosper Utseya, caught behind, the Indians were 61/3 in the 13th over. 
With the seniors out of the side, it needed the pair of Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma, to slowly take the side out of trouble, and while they did so, they took up a lot of overs. Raina was looking good before he edged one behind the stumps for 37 to leave the side tottering at 128/4 and with only 20 overs remaining.
It was a concerted effort from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja that saw the side recover and get a move on in the final few overs. Sharma completed his first ever century, whereas Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 to see the side to a very imposing 285/5 in the fifty overs.
Imposing it was alright, but that did not prevent Zimbabwe from making a good fist of getting near it. The first wicket partnership of Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor added 88 in only 13 overs, and while the rest of them slowed down a little, the hosts were always in with a chance.
Taylor scored an 81, and looked to have got out at the wrong time when he was dismissed for 81 with Zimbabwe at 176/3, but then, Craig Ervine took over and took control of the chase. With 110 required off 95 deliveries, the Zimbabweans near allowed the asking rate to creep too high, as Ervine, playing his first ODI made an excellent 60-ball 67 to guide his side to a win.
He remained unbeaten till the end, while Elton Chigumbura hit the winning runs in the end, to take the side home to a five wicket win.
Taylor’s excellent glove work and 81 won him the man of the match award.