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Pratika Rawal’s century powers India to dominant victory (Img: Dynamite News)
Vadodara: India opened their three-match women’s ODI series against Zimbabwe with a commanding nine-wicket victory in Vadodara on Friday, thanks to Pratika Rawal’s unbeaten century and a blistering half-century from Shafali Verma. Chasing 198, India reached 200 for one in just 27.1 overs, with 22.5 overs to spare.
Rawal remained unbeaten on 100 off 96 balls, while Shafali smashed an unbeaten 64 off just 33 deliveries. Earlier, Shree Charani returned career-best figures of 4 for 23 and Kranti Gaud claimed 3 for 42 to dismiss Zimbabwe for 197 in 49.5 overs. Beloved Biza top-scored for the visitors with 62.
Zimbabwe chose to bat on a good batting surface but lost Loryn Phiri in the third over when Kranti took a diving return catch. India, however, missed opportunities in the early stages, with Richa Ghosh dropping Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Deepti Sharma putting down Modester Mupachikwa off debutant Jintimani Kalita’s bowling.
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Zimbabwe reached 46 for one at the end of the Powerplay, but Charani soon changed the course of the innings. After beginning with a maiden, she dismissed Mugeri-Tiripano leg-before-wicket with the first ball of her next over. She then removed Mupachikwa, who mistimed a lofted drive into the hands of the fielder at mid-off.
Deepti added to Zimbabwe’s troubles by having Sharne Mayers caught, leaving the visitors struggling at 70 for four.
Biza steadied the innings with Nyasha Gwanzura, putting together 43 runs for the fifth wicket and bringing up her half-century. Michelle Mavunga then provided some late momentum with 29 off 23 balls, including a six over midwicket off Sayali Satghare.
Mavunga was dropped on 20 by Kranti at deep midwicket before Charani eventually had her caught by Kalita. Her dismissal sparked another collapse, with Zimbabwe losing three wickets for just three runs. Shafali trapped captain Nomvelo Sibanda leg-before, while Kranti accounted for Biza, who was caught at mid-off.
The final pair added 14 runs before Deepti bowled Tendai Makusha with one ball remaining in the innings.
India’s openers wasted little time in taking control of the chase. Rawal struck two boundaries in the opening over, while Smriti Mandhana found her rhythm at the other end as India raced to 72 without loss in 10 overs.
Rawal, who was dropped on 45 at midwicket, went on to complete her half-century off 54 balls. The opening stand produced 94 runs before Mandhana was caught at long-on for 32.
Shafali then accelerated the scoring, taking 20 runs off Olinder Chare’s 26th over with three sixes. She reached her fifty in just 29 balls, putting India firmly on course for victory.
Rawal completed her third ODI century with a boundary in the 27th over. The unbeaten partnership between Rawal and Shafali yielded 106 runs off only 70 balls, sealing a comprehensive win and giving India a 1-0 lead in the series.
