In the third and final game of the Women’s ODI series, India defeated Zimbabwe 3-0 on Wednesday, winning by eight wickets. Zimbabwe was limited to 131 all out in 39.5 overs by left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma’s five wickets. Pratika Rawal’s calm half-century and Shafali Verma‘s 51* off 26 balls then led the hosts to a comfortable chase.
In just her third ODI, the 20-year-old Vaishnavi finished with five for 39 in ten overs. This was an incredible back-to-back effort from the 20-year-old, who had already claimed four wickets in the second ODI of the same series. Shafali Verma, batting at No. 4, blazed 51 not out off just 26 balls to help India defeat the target in just 17 overs, while Pratika remained undefeated on 59 off 56 balls.
How did Zimbabwe get dismissed for 131 by India’s bowlers?
In her first over, pacer Sayali Satghare removed opener Loryn Phiri with a slight edge down the leg side. Soon after, Shafali Verma’s regulation delivery was cut directly to the fielder at point by No. 3 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano.
After that, Vaishnavi took charge of the innings. Before outwitting the formidable Modester Mupachikwa, she first dismissed Beloved Biza. Wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia stumped Mupachikwa after Vaishnavi floated a wide, tossed-up delivery, sensing she would move down the pitch. Mupachikwa, who top-scored with 37 off 48 balls, had been Zimbabwe’s best batter of the day.
Nyasha Gwanzura attempted a wild slog sweep, but the ball ricocheted off her pads onto the stumps, giving Vaishnavi her fifth and final wicket on the final ball of her spell. Vaishnavi’s efforts were bolstered by two wickets each from Kranti Gaud and Satghare. Zimbabwe’s batting struggled throughout the white-ball tour of India after a series of soft dismissals early in the innings put them under pressure.
Yastika Bhatia was sent to open alongside Pratika Rawal by captain Smriti Mandhana, but Bhatia squandered the chance by attempting a cross-batted stroke off the first ball she faced and was caught at mid-on. But Pratika wasn’t bothered.
In her 30th ODI appearance, she reached her 10th ODI half-century on Wednesday after scoring 100 and 61 in the first two ODIs. After hitting boundaries on both sides of the square to get off to a good start, she gradually extended her innings. India reached the target in just 17 overs after Shafali joined her and accelerated the chase with a barrage of boundaries, finishing undefeated at 51 off 26 balls.
Also Read: Sneh Rana after joining UP Warriorz ahead of WPL 2027
Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia, and Kranti Gaud were added to India’s starting lineup for the final game after the series was already decided. For the second ODI, Gaud was rested. In women’s cricket, this was the first bilateral series between India and Zimbabwe. India had completed a perfect sweep in both formats by winning the previous T20 series 3-0. During the white-ball tour, Zimbabwe, for their part, learned a lot about playing against one of the best teams in women’s cricket.
