In Harare today, India defeated Zimbabwe by 54 runs in the first T20 International cricket match. Spinners Axar Patel, who claimed three wickets and Harbhajan Singh who accounted for two dismissals, ripped through the Zimbabwe batting order as the home side ended at 124 for Seven, while chasing a target of 179. Mohit Sharma and Sandeep Sharma shared the other two wickets. Earlier, Skipper Ajinkya Rahane's 33, Murali Vijay's 34, and Robin Uthappa's unbeaten 39, helped India post a commanding 178 for 5 after electing to bat. The second and final encounter of the T-20 series will be played on Sunday.