HARARE, Zimbabwe:

India beat Zimbabwe by 58 runs in the second one-day international yesterday to ease into a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The world champion and recent Champions Trophy winner made 294-8 batting first at Harare Sports Club and sent Zimbabwe's middle order tumbling to keep the hosts to 236-9 for a second straight comfortable win.

Left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat took 4-41 and had two wickets in two balls in the last over to finish off the Zimbabweans, who were already beaten having gone from 109-1 to 133-6 in a disastrous 10-over period.

Earlier, opener Shikhar Dhawan made 116 to rescue top-ranked India from 65-4 in a 167-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (69) to set the winning total.

India's intention to develop some new players on tour is already paying off, with newcomer Unadkat leading the bowlers in his second ODI yesterday. Batsman Ambati Rayudu made an unbeaten half-century on debut In India's six-wicket win in the opening game on Wednesday.

Yesterday, India twice pulled themselves clear of trouble, first after their early batting struggles and then when Zimbabwe was making good progress at the start of their innings.

"We're playing some really good cricket," said captain Virat Kohli, who is standing in for the rested Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the series.

"We've got a new side out there and we are going to be put under pressure. It's how you come out of that, and the guys responded beautifully."

Dhawan recorded his third ODI century having been dropped by Zimbabwe captain and wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor on 13 and again by Malcolm Waller in the deep on 70. Taylor put down a regulation edge and Waller saw the ball go straight through his hands on the square leg boundary. Dhawan went on to add another 46 precious runs after that second chance went down, and hit 11 fours and two sixes to lift India to a hefty score.