Vaishnavi’s maiden five-for propels India to eight-wicket win and 3-0 series sweep

India defeated Zimbabwe by eight wickets at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Wednesday as Vaishnavi Sharma claimed her maiden ODI five-wicket haul and Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma both scored fifties to complete a 3-0 series sweep.

Local interest in the match centred on Yastika Bhatia after India replaced Richa Ghosh; the wicketkeeper took a catch, effected a stumping and was involved in a run out but was dismissed first ball when she skied the opening delivery to Francisca Chipare at mid-on. Harleen Deol, brought in for Tejal Hasabnis, made a run-a-ball 19 but was overshadowed by Pratika Rawal’s fluent unbeaten 59 and Shafali Verma’s unbeaten 51 as India chased rapidly. The chase finished in 17 overs, leaving 33 overs of the allotted 50 unused.

Zimbabwe’s innings began poorly when Sayali Satghare and Kranti Gaud removed two early wickets to leave the visitors 12 for two inside the third over. Modester Mupachikwa resisted with 37 and Josephine Nkomo contributed 35, but Zimbabwe struggled to rotate the strike and endured severe dot-ball pressure, registering 193 dots from 237 balls. The side were all out for 131 in 39.5 overs.

Gwalior-born left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma targeted the middle order and finished with figures of 5 for 39, also recording India’s first no ball of the series and bowling a few deliveries that went wide on what was described as a slow track in Kotambi. Her five-wicket performance was a maiden at this level and she left the field smiling, receiving her customary curtain call.

India reached 133 for 2 in 17 overs to seal the victory, with Pratika Rawal unbeaten on 59 and Shafali Verma unbeaten on 51. The match official details read: Zimbabwe 131 in 39.5 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 37, Josephine Nkomo 35, Vaishnavi Sharma 5/39) lost to India 133/2 in 17 overs (Pratika Rawal 59 n.o., Shafali Verma 51 n.o.). Toss: Zimbabwe; PoM: Vaishnavi; PoS: Pratika.

The win completed a 3-0 series sweep for India and brought Zimbabwe’s maiden tour of India to an end.