India Women Beat Zimbabwe by Nine Wickets in First ODI
India Women opened their ODI series against Zimbabwe with a nine-wicket victory at Kotambi Stadium on Friday, October 23. Pratika Rawal scored an unbeaten 100 as India chased down the target of 198 in 27.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
India made a b start in response to Zimbabwe's total of 197. Pratika Rawal and captain Smriti Mandhana added 94 runs for the first wicket, putting pressure on the visitors' bowling attack during the opening overs.
Mandhana was dismissed for 32 off 34 balls. Shafali Verma joined Rawal at the crease and scored quickly, while Rawal continued to build her innings.
Rawal remained unbeaten on 100 off 96 balls, hitting 15 fours. The century was her third in ODI cricket. She maintained her composure throughout the innings and stayed at the crease until the target was reached.
Shafali also remained unbeaten, scoring 64 off just 33 balls, including five fours and four sixes. The pair added an unbroken 106-run partnership for the second wicket.
India finished on 200 for one in 27.1 overs, securing victory with 137 balls remaining.
Earlier, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat. The visitors were bowled out for 197 in 49.5 overs, failing to complete their allotted 50 overs.
India left-arm spinner Shree Charani was the leading wicket-taker, claiming four wickets for 23 runs in 10 overs. The performance was the best bowling return of her ODI career.
Charani dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, who scored 21, and Modester Mupachikwa, who made 25. She later removed Nyasha Gwanzura and Michelle Mavunga, preventing Zimbabwe from building substantial partnerships.
Kranti Gaud also contributed with the ball, taking three wickets for 42 runs. Deepti Sharma claimed two wickets for 44 runs, while Shafali Verma took one wicket.
Beloved Biza was Zimbabwe's top scorer, making 62 off 92 balls, including five fours. She continued scoring as wickets fell at the other end.
Michelle Mavunga contributed 29 off 23 balls, hitting three fours and one six. Mupachikwa scored 25, while Mugeri-Tiripano added 21.
India's bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 197, although the fielding side missed several opportunities. Two catches were dropped in the opening overs, and a difficult chance to dismiss Mavunga later went unclaimed. Zimbabwe added some runs after those missed chances but could not build a larger total.
India had previously defeated Zimbabwe 3-0 in the three-match T20 series. The victory in the opening ODI continued India's winning run against the visitors.
Rawal was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten century. India now lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.
The second ODI will be played in Vadodara on October 25.
