Vadodara, Oct 27 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-overs game here on Wednesday.
India have already clinched the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead after comprehensive victories in the first two games. They will now aim for a clean sweep to top up a 3-0 T20I series triumph earlier this month.
The hosts have barely been challenged across the two ODI outings. 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 for six in the second match.
India, led by young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, then bowled Zimbabwe out for 207 to register a comprehensive 121-run victory and seal the series with a game to spare.
While Smriti Mandhana has begun her full-time captaincy stint on a strong note, the opener would ideally like a big knock before conclusion of the series.
She was dismissed after scoring 32 against the run of play in the opener while getting out for a duck in the second match.
Pratika, meanwhile, has made a strong case to keep her opening spot with a century in the first game followed by a fluent 61 in the second. Shafali Verma, who has dropped down to No 3, has done well in the new role as she smashed her way to an unbeaten 64 off just 33 balls in the opener.
But 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 department has done its job but could perhaps be more ruthless against a lower-ranked team like Zimbabwe.
Shree Charani’s career-best 4/23 in the first ODI was followed by a four-wicket haul by young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma in the second, with Deepti also picking up three wickets.
For Zimbabwe, the third ODI presents a final opportunity to put up a stronger fight. Their batters have struggled to build sizeable partnerships against India’s varied attack, while the bowlers face another stern test against a deep Indian line-up.
Teams (from):
India: Smriti Mandhana (c), Deepti Sharma (vc), Harmanpreet Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Pratika Rawal, Sayali Satghare, Shafali Verma, Kranti Gaud, Jintimani Kalita, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.
Zimbabwe: Josephine Nkomo (c), 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.
Match starts at 2:00pm IST.
(PTI News)
