Vaishnavi Sharma spins India to third ODI win over Zimbabwe

Vaishnavi Sharma took five wickets as India beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the third Women’s ODI in Vadodara on Wednesday to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma scored unbeaten half-centuries to seal the win comfortably

Vadodara: Vaishnavi Sharma’s five-wicket haul and Pratika Rawal’s classy half-century headlined India’s thumping eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the third Women’s ODI as the hosts completed a 3-0 series sweep here on Wednesday.

Young Indian left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma foxed the Zimbabwean batters with her flight and guile, restricting the visitors to 131 all out in 39.5 overs.

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Playing her third ODI, Vaishnavi ran through the opposition to finish with figures of five for 39 in 10 overs. The 20-year-old had taken four wickets in the second ODI here.

Pratika ensured a straightforward chase for India with a brisk 59 not out off 56 balls. Batting at No. 4, Shafali Verma blasted 51 not out off 26 balls to complete the chase in just 17 overs.

Captain Smriti Mandhana sent Yastika Bhatia to open the innings alongside Pratika, but the left-hander squandered the opportunity. She attempted a cross-batted stroke off her very first ball and was caught at mid-on.

Following her scores of 100 and 61 in the first two games, Pratika once again milked the Zimbabwe bowlers. A four on either side of the square got her going before she went on to score her 10th half-century in her 30th ODI.

Shafali then joined Pratika in the middle and typically accelerated the proceedings with a barrage of boundaries.

It was the first time India and Zimbabwe had played a bilateral series. India had also won the preceding T20 series 3-0. The visitors, meanwhile, gained much-needed experience of playing a top side in women’s cricket.

Earlier, Vaishnavi was not afraid to give the ball air, and the Zimbabwean batters could not resist the bait, contributing to their rapid downfall. Opener Modester Mupachikwa top-scored for the visitors with 37 off 48 balls.

A series of soft dismissals early in the innings put pressure on Zimbabwe, whose batting had struggled throughout the white-ball tour of India.

Pacer Sayali Satghare struck in her first over, with opener Loryn Phiri getting a faint tickle down the leg side.

No. 3 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano was the next to depart after cutting a regulation delivery from Shafali Verma straight to the fielder at point.

Then it was Vaishnavi’s turn to weave a spin web around the opposition batters.

She first got rid of Beloved Biza before deceiving the in-form Mupachikwa. Sensing that Mupachikwa would step out, Vaishnavi bowled a wide, tossed-up delivery to have the batter stumped by wicketkeeper Bhatia.

Her fifth and final wicket came off the last ball of her spell, as Nyasha Gwanzura went for a wild slog sweep and the ball ricocheted off her pads onto the stumps.

While Vaishnavi was the star of the show, Kranti Gaud and Satghare picked up two wickets each.

With the series already in the bag, India made three changes to their playing XI, bringing in Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud. Gaud had been rested for the second ODI.