India completed a 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe in the Women’s ODI series on Wednesday, winning the third and final match by eight wickets. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma‘s five-wicket haul restricted Zimbabwe to 131 all out in 39.5 overs, and Pratika Rawal’s composed half-century then guided the hosts to a comfortable chase alongside Shafali Verma, who blasted 51* off 26 balls.
The 20-year-old Vaishnavi, playing only her third ODI, finished with figures of five for 39 in 10 overs. She had already taken four wickets in the second ODI of the same series, making this a remarkable back-to-back contribution from the 20-year-old. Pratika remained unbeaten on 59 off 56 balls, while Shafali Verma, batting at No. 4, blazed 51 not out off just 26 balls to help India knock off the target in just 17 overs.
How did India’s bowlers dismiss Zimbabwe for 131?
Pacer Sayali Satghare struck early, removing opener Loryn Phiri with a faint edge down the leg side in her first over. No. 3 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano followed soon after, cutting a regulation delivery from Shafali Verma straight to the fielder at point.
Vaishnavi then took control of the innings. She first dismissed Beloved Biza before outwitting the in-form Modester Mupachikwa. Sensing that Mupachikwa would advance down the pitch, Vaishnavi floated a wide, tossed-up delivery and had her stumped by wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia. Mupachikwa had been Zimbabwe’s best batter on the day, top-scoring with 37 off 48 balls.
Vaishnavi’s fifth and final wicket arrived off the last ball of her spell when Nyasha Gwanzura attempted a wild slog sweep and the ball ricocheted off her pads onto the stumps. Kranti Gaud and Satghare each picked up two wickets to support Vaishnavi’s effort. A string of soft dismissals early in the innings had put Zimbabwe under pressure, and their batting struggled throughout the white-ball tour of India.
How did India’s batters seal the chase and what was the series significance?
Captain Smriti Mandhana sent Yastika Bhatia to open alongside Pratika Rawal, but Bhatia wasted the opportunity by attempting a cross-batted stroke off the very first ball she faced and was caught at mid-on. Pratika, however, was untroubled.
She had scored 100 and 61 in the first two ODIs, and on Wednesday she brought up her 10th ODI half-century in her 30th appearance in the format. She got off the mark with boundaries on either side of the square before building her innings steadily. Shafali joined her and accelerated the chase with a barrage of boundaries, finishing unbeaten on 51 off 26 balls as India reached the target in just 17 overs.
With the series already decided, India made three changes to their playing XI for the final game, handing places to Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud. Gaud had been rested for the second ODI. This was the first bilateral series played between India and Zimbabwe in women’s cricket. India had also won the preceding T20 series 3-0, completing a clean sweep across both formats. Zimbabwe, for their part, gained valuable experience of competing against one of the top sides in women’s cricket during the white-ball tour.
