Vaishnavi Sharma shines as India restrict Zimbabwe to 131

Vadodara: Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma claimed her maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket as India Women bowled out Zimbabwe for 131 in 39.5 overs in the third and final ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Wednesday.

Vaishnavi returned impressive figures of 5/39, while Sayali Satghare (2/11) and Kranti Gaud (2/23) picked up two wickets each to dismantle the Zimbabwean batting line-up and leave the visitors with a modest total to defend.

Put in to bat, Zimbabwe endured a middle-order collapse as India’s seamers struck early. Sayali sent Loryn Phiri packing for a six-ball duck in the second over, followed by Kranti, who dealt a similar blow to Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (4) in the third.

Beloved Biza also had a slow start and was dismissed for one off 16 balls, failing to find room as India’s tight bowling put the visitors under pressure.

The early wickets left Zimbabwe struggling to build momentum on a pitch that seemed perfect for batting on a sunny day. Wickets kept tumbling as the top order fell with the score in the twenties. Modester Mupachikwa and Josephine Nkomo, however, kept the innings going with scores of 37 and 35, respectively.

Mupachikwa added 27 runs with captain Nkomo for the fourth wicket before being dismissed.

Nkomo made 35, while Chiedza Dhururu scored 20. Only Nyasha Gwanzura (10) among the remaining batters managed to reach double figures as Zimbabwe’s innings folded early. Neither Mupachikwa nor Nkomo, however, could convert their starts into a substantial score as India’s bowlers continued to chip away at the batting order.

Vaishnavi capitalised on the pressure created by the seamers, breaking through the middle and lower order to claim her maiden five-wicket haul.

Sayali and Kranti also struck crucial blows to prevent Zimbabwe from mounting a recovery.

Ultimately, the visitors were bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs, falling well short of the 200-run mark that Nkomo had earlier set as a reasonable target.

India’s disciplined bowling effort fulfilled captain Smriti Mandhana’s pre-match wish to restrict Zimbabwe to a modest total. The hosts now need 132 runs to complete a clean sweep in the three-match ODI series.

Brief scores:

Zimbabwe Women 131 all out in 39.5 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 37, Josephine Nkomo 35; Vaishnavi Sharma 5/39, Sayali Satghare 2/11) against India Women.