VADODARA: Twenty-year-old Vaishnavi Sharma did not need long to announce herself in senior international cricket. In only her third one-day international, the left-arm spinner took five wickets for 39 runs as India bowled Zimbabwe out for 131 and then cruised to an eight-wicket win in Vadodara on Wednesday, completing a 3-0 sweep of the ODI series.
It was a ruthless, professional finish to a tour India had controlled from the start. Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, but never found a way past a disciplined Indian attack. The chase, in the end, lasted only 17 overs. Pratika Rawal finished unbeaten on 59 from 56 balls, and Shafali Verma, batting at number four, smashed an unbeaten 51 from just 26 balls as India reached 133 for two.
The result also completed a clean sweep of the white-ball tour. India had already won the preceding T20 series 3-0, and the ODI series followed the same pattern: a nine-wicket win in the opener, a 121-run win in the second match, and now this eight-wicket rout in the finale.
Vaishnavi turns the middle overs into a procession
Vaishnavi had already taken four wickets in the second ODI. On Wednesday she went one better, giving the ball air, inviting the batters forward, and letting them make the mistakes.
Her spell turned a difficult innings into a collapse. She worked through the middle and lower order, and once the visitors lost their set batters, there was no one left to rebuild.
Opener and wicketkeeper Modester Mupachikwa top-scored with 37 off 48 balls, and captain Josephine Nkomo made 35. Chiedza Dhururu added 20. But neither Mupachikwa nor Nkomo could turn a start into a substantial score, and no other batter apart from Nyasha Gwanzura, who made 10, reached double figures.
The seamers did the early damage. Sayali Satghare removed Loryn Phiri for a six-ball duck in the second over, and Kranti Gaud dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano for four in the third. Beloved Biza managed only one run from 16 balls. Sayali finished with two for 11 and Kranti with two for 23.
Pratika and Shafali finish the job in a hurry
India’s chase began with a stumble, and then it barely paused again. Captain Smriti Mandhana sent Yastika Bhatia to open alongside Pratika Rawal, but Yastika was caught at mid-on off her very first ball after attempting a cross-batted stroke.
Harleen Deol, playing her first game of the series, made 19 off 19 balls. After that, Pratika and Shafali took charge. Pratika, who had scored 100 and 61 in the first two matches, brought up her 10th half-century in her 30th ODI and finished the series with 220 runs. Shafali attacked from the moment she arrived, and the pair closed the game with 33 overs to spare.
What the sweep means
For Zimbabwe, the tour was always going to be a hard education. This was their first bilateral series against India, and they came up against a strong side playing at home. They will take away the experience of facing top-level bowling and the knowledge of how quickly a game can move away when partnerships do not develop.
For India, the value lies beyond the scoreline. Pratika Rawal made a century and two fifties in three innings. Vaishnavi Sharma, with four wickets in the second ODI and five in the third, finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series with nine wickets. At 20, in only her third ODI, she has given the team a genuine new option, and that emergence will matter most when the opposition is stronger and the margins are smaller.
Key moments from Vadodara
- Second over: Sayali Satghare removes Loryn Phiri for a duck, and Zimbabwe are under pressure from the start.
- Vaishnavi’s five-for: The 20-year-old takes five for 39 in 10 overs in only her third ODI, after taking four wickets in the second match.
- Zimbabwe bowled out for 131: Mupachikwa scores 37 and Nkomo 35, but the visitors fold in 39.5 overs.
- Golden duck: Yastika Bhatia is caught at mid-on off her first ball in India’s chase.
- Pratika’s fifty: Pratika Rawal finishes unbeaten on 59 off 56 balls, her 10th ODI half-century, and ends the series with 220 runs.
- Shafali’s burst: Shafali Verma smashes an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls at number four as India win in 17 overs.
FAQs
What was the result of the India vs Zimbabwe 3rd women’s ODI?
India beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets in Vadodara on Wednesday, chasing 132 in 17 overs to complete a 3-0 ODI series sweep.
Who was the star performer for India?
Vaishnavi Sharma took five wickets for 39 runs in 10 overs, her maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket, in only her third ODI.
How many runs did Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma score?
Pratika Rawal scored an unbeaten 59 off 56 balls and Shafali Verma scored an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls. Pratika finished the series with 220 runs.
What did Zimbabwe score?
Zimbabwe were bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs after winning the toss and batting first. Modester Mupachikwa top-scored with 37 and captain Josephine Nkomo made 35.
Did India also win the T20 series against Zimbabwe?
Yes. India had already swept the preceding T20 series 3-0, making it a clean sweep across both white-ball series on the tour.
India closed out the tour in style in Vadodara.
