Rayadu helps India post 255 against Zimbabwe

Ambati Rayadu's unbeaten century and Stuart Binny's flamboyant innings helped India set a decent target of 256 on a difficult track in the first ODI of the three-match series against Zimbabwe on Friday.

Asked to bat first, India didn't get off to a very good start as they lost opener Murali Vijay (1) with only nine runs on the board. Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane had a decent first wicket partnership with Rayadu, but threw it away soon after with Hamilton Masakadza taking a sharp catch at first slip. Soon, from 60/1, India slumped to 87/5 as Zimbabwe bowled a tight line.

Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa and Kedar Jadhav, all failed, managing scores of 2, 0 and 5 respectively.

Binny joined Rayudu at the crease and played sensibly before the duo took the attack to the bowlers. This was the first time they batted together in ODIs and they registered a hundred partnership.

Rayudu(124) recorded his second ODI hundred, while Binny (77) registered his maiden ODI fifty.

Chamu Chibhabha, with figures of 10-2-25-2, was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers.