Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma centuries steer India to 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in Kotambi
On Sunday at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma both scored centuries as India defeated Zimbabwe in the second ODI to secure an unassailable 2-0 series lead and a 121-run victory.
India recovered from an early two-wicket collapse to post 328/6 in 50 overs, setting a 329-run target; Harmanpreet made 126 and Deepti finished 106 not out. The match featured a record-breaking 153-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Harmanpreet and Deepti that formed the backbone of India’s innings.
India slipped to 19 for 2 inside the third over after Nomvelo Sibanda’s short-ball dismissals of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, before Pratika Rawal joined Harmanpreet. Pratika, coming off a century in the first ODI, and Harmanpreet added 124 runs off 118 balls until Nyasha Gwanzura outfoxed Pratika with a change of pace; Tejal Hasabnis was dismissed soon after.
Harmanpreet consolidated the middle overs with a range of off-side drives and cuts while Deepti attacked on the leg side, with 32 of their first 47 runs coming via Deepti’s leg-side strokes. Harmanpreet reached triple figures without an emotional celebration, and Deepti completed her second ODI hundred in the final over, the latter arriving nine years after her first.
Zimbabwe began their chase brightly as Modester Mupachikwa provided a sprightly start despite the early loss of Loryn Phiri, and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano supported to take the visitors to 100 in 19 overs. India’s seamers struggled to break partnerships until Sayali Satghare dismissed Mugeri-Tiripano.
Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma then removed Mupachikwa for her maiden ODI wicket and followed with dismissals of Beloved Biza, Michelle Mavunga and skipper Josephine Nkomo in quick succession. Deepti Sharma took three wickets as she cleaned up Zimbabwe’s lower order before Jintimani Kalita took her first ODI wicket, leaving Zimbabwe all out for 207 in 48.5 overs.
Scorecard details: India 328/6 in 50 overs (Pratika Rawal 61, Harmanpreet Kaur 126, Deepti Sharma 106 n.o.) beat Zimbabwe 207 in 48.5 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 49, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 46, Beloved Biza 34; Deepti 3/32, Vaishnavi Sharma 4/39).
The third and final ODI is scheduled for October 28 at 2 p.m.
