A dominant India will look to sign off their first-ever bilateral women’s ODI series against Zimbabwe with another emphatic win when the two teams square off in the third and final 50-over game on Wednesday. India have already clinched the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead after comprehensive victories in the first two matches. They will now aim for a clean sweep to add to their 3-0 T20I series triumph earlier this month. Pratika Rawal’s unbeaten 100 and Shree Charani’s four-wicket haul set up a nine-wicket win in the opener before Harmanpreet Kaur’s 126 and Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 106 powered India to 328/6 in the second match.
The hosts have barely been challenged across the two ODI outings.
India, led by young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, then bowled Zimbabwe out for 207 to register a commanding 121-run victory and seal the series with a game to spare. She was dismissed for 32 in the opener before falling for a duck in the second match. Pratika, meanwhile, has made a strong case to retain her opening spot with a century in the first game followed by a fluent 61 in the second. 3, has adapted well to the new role, smashing an unbeaten 64 off just 33 balls in the opener. Shree Charani’s career-best 4/23 in the first ODI was followed by a four-wicket haul from Vaishnavi Sharma in the second, while Deepti also chipped in with three wickets. Match Start Time: 2:00 PM IST (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Shafali Verma, who has moved down to No. However, Harmanpreet’s return to form has perhaps been the biggest positive for the Women in Blue. The senior batter rolled back the years with a commanding match-winning century in the second ODI. The bowling unit has also impressed but could look to be even more ruthless against a lower-ranked side such as Zimbabwe. For Zimbabwe, the third ODI presents one final opportunity to put up a stronger challenge. Their batters have struggled to build substantial partnerships against India’s varied attack, while the bowlers face another stern test against a deep Indian batting line-up. Squads India: Smriti Mandhana (captain), Deepti Sharma (vice-captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Pratika Rawal, Sayali Satghare, Shafali Verma, Kranti Gaud, Jintimani Kalita, Nandini Sharma, Shree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma. Zimbabwe: Josephine Nkomo (captain), Chiedza Dhururu (wk), Sharne Mayers, Modester Mupachikwa, Beloved Biza, Nyasha Gwanzura, Michelle Mavunga, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Francisca Chipare, Tendai Makusha, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda.
the opener would ideally like a big score before the conclusion of the series While Smriti Mandhana has begun her full-time captaincy stint on a strong note.
