Iyer wins one at last: India beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Harare

Shreyas Iyer got his first win as India's T20I captain on Thursday, seven matches into the job, as India beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the first T20I at the Harare Sports Club.

Iyer took over the captaincy ahead of India's tour of the UK earlier this year and had nothing to show for it until now: a 2-0 clean sweep against Ireland, then a 4-0 loss to England. Thursday ended a run of six straight defeats.

He won the toss and bowled. India restricted Zimbabwe to 125 for 7, then knocked off the runs with 40 balls and seven wickets to spare, completing the chase inside 13.2 overs.

"I think the boys were tremendous. Couldn't have been happier with my first win," Iyer said after the match. "We are going to play two more matches here, so today's performance gives everyone some confidence."

Mayank Yadav was named Player of the Match for figures of 2 for 18, returning to the India side after more than a year and a half out. Prince Yadav took 2 for 19. "It always feels great when you contribute in a win. So it was a very special moment for me," Mayank said, adding that the bounce and seam movement in Harare were a help.

The innings that decided the game belonged to a 15-year-old. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reached fifty off 18 balls, becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in men's international cricket, at 15 years and 118 days, a mark previously held by Sachin Tendulkar. His fifty carried four sixes and four fours.

"He is a fearless youngster. The way he approached his innings was indomitable," Iyer said of him. Sooryavanshi has played at the ground before, scoring 175 in the Under-19 World Cup final.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza was blunt about his side's total. "Not up to the standards. In the morning, moisture played a part but I didn't expect it to play a part for that long," he said. "In the last eight overs and when India came out to bat, the wicket was very true."

Two more T20Is follow at the same venue. India lead 1-0.