India Women produced a dominant performance against Zimbabwe Women in the third ODI of the Zimbabwe Women tour of India 2026, cruising to an eight-wicket victory in Vadodara on October 28. After a disciplined bowling display restricted Zimbabwe to 131 in 39.5 overs, India’s opening batters made light work of the chase. Shafali Verma’s explosive half-century and Pratika Rawal’s unbeaten innings ensured the hosts reached their target in just 17 overs, with 198 balls remaining.
Zimbabwe Women had a difficult start after being asked to bat, losing Loryn Phiri for a duck in the second over. Phiri faced six deliveries before being caught by wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia off Sayali Satghare’s bowling, leaving Zimbabwe at 6/1 after 1.3 overs. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano then departed for four off eight balls, caught by Shafali Verma off Kranti Gaud, as the visitors slipped to 12/2 in 2.6 overs.
Modester Mupachikwa provided some resistance amid the early wickets, trying to stabilise the innings with a patient 37 off 48 deliveries. Her knock included seven boundaries and helped Zimbabwe recover from their shaky start. However, Beloved Biza could manage only one run from 16 balls before being caught by Harmanpreet Kaur off Vaishnavi Sharma, leaving Zimbabwe at 25/3 in 9.1 overs. The early dismissals put considerable pressure on the middle order, with India maintaining control through disciplined bowling.
Captain Josephine Nkomo joined Mupachikwa to rebuild the innings, and the pair attempted to steady Zimbabwe’s progress. Mupachikwa eventually fell at 52/4 in 15.5 overs, caught by Yastika Bhatia off Vaishnavi Sharma. Nkomo continued to battle, scoring 35 from 67 balls, including four boundaries, while Chiedza Dhururu contributed 20 off 39 deliveries, also striking four fours. Their efforts offered Zimbabwe some stability, but the Indian bowlers continued to break through at crucial moments. Dhururu was caught by Harleen Deol off Vaishnavi Sharma at 95/5 in 27.2 overs, ending another important partnership.
Michelle Mavunga scored six off nine balls before becoming Vaishnavi’s fourth victim, caught by Harleen Deol at 105/6 in 29.5 overs. Nyasha Gwanzura added a brisk 10 from 13 deliveries, including two boundaries, but was bowled by Vaishnavi Sharma as Zimbabwe slipped to 119/8 in 33.6 overs. Nkomo’s innings ended soon afterwards at 119/7 in 32.6 overs, with Kranti Gaud taking the wicket and Harleen Deol completing the catch. Olinder Chare was bowled by Satghare for a 10-ball duck at 125/9 in 36.2 overs, while Nomvelo Sibanda was run out for three off 12 balls following a combined effort from Jintimani Kalita and Yastika Bhatia. Franciscа Chipare remained unbeaten on four from 13 deliveries as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs.
Vaishnavi Sharma was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 5/39 in 10 overs, including one maiden. Her five-wicket haul dismantled Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order and proved decisive in keeping the target manageable. Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare provided excellent support, claiming two wickets apiece. Gaud finished with 2/23 from seven overs, including one maiden, while Satghare conceded just 11 runs in six overs, also bowling a maiden.
Deepti Sharma delivered an economical spell of 0/12, including one maiden, applying further pressure on the Zimbabwean batters. Jintimani Kalita conceded 27 runs in six overs and finished wicketless, while Shafali Verma bowled four overs for 17 runs without taking a wicket. India’s disciplined bowling restricted Zimbabwe to a run rate of 3.29, ensuring the visitors never established the momentum needed to post a competitive total.
India’s chase began with an early setback when Yastika Bhatia was dismissed for a first-ball duck, caught by Franciscа Chipare off Nomvelo Sibanda in the opening over. However, the early wicket did little to disrupt India’s momentum. Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol quickly settled into their innings, rotating the strike and finding boundaries to keep the required run rate comfortably under control.
Harleen Deol scored 19 from 19 deliveries, hitting four boundaries, before being caught by Mupachikwa off Phiri at 59/2 in 8.4 overs. Her dismissal brought Shafali Verma to the crease, and the aggressive opener immediately shifted the tempo of the innings. Pratika, meanwhile, continued her composed approach, building her innings with well-timed strokes and sensible shot selection.
The partnership between Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma proved the defining phase of the chase. Shafali smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 26 balls, striking six fours and three sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 196.15. Her attacking stroke play put Zimbabwe’s bowlers under sustained pressure and brought India rapidly towards the target. At the other end, Pratika remained unbeaten on 59 from 56 deliveries, with four boundaries and three sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 105.35.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters. Sibanda took 1/18 from three overs, while Phiri claimed 1/28 in three overs. Chipare conceded 25 runs in four overs, Mavunga gave away 18 in two, Chare conceded 26 in three, and Biza went for 17 in two overs. None of the remaining bowlers could find a breakthrough as India accelerated towards victory. Extras contributed four runs, including one bye and three wides.
India Women eventually reached 133/2 in 17 overs, completing an emphatic eight-wicket win with 198 balls remaining. The result highlighted India’s superiority in both departments, with Vaishnavi Sharma’s five-wicket haul setting up the victory before Shafali Verma and Pratika Rawal delivered a commanding batting performance. Zimbabwe Women showed moments of resistance through Mupachikwa, Nkomo and Dhururu, but their modest total left too much work for their bowling attack.
Loves all things female cricket