VADODARA: India Women completed a clean sweep of the ODI series against Zimbabwe in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, romping to an eight-wicket victory in the third and final match at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, to wrap up the series 3-0. The hosts, who had already sealed the series with a game to spare, showed no signs of easing off, producing a disciplined all-round performance that underlined the growing gap between the two sides in the 50-over format.
Zimbabwe, having won the toss and chosen to bat first, never built lasting momentum on a surface that rewarded bowlers who hit the right lengths. The visitors were bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs, a total that always looked well short against a batting line-up as deep and in-form as India’s. Wickets fell at regular intervals just as partnerships threatened to take shape.
The star of the day was left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, who claimed a maiden ODI five-wicket haul to dismantle the Zimbabwe middle and lower order. Returning figures of 5 for 39 from her full quota of 10 overs, Vaishnavi was deservedly named Player of the Match, her control and variation proving too much for a side that struggled to rotate the strike against her.
Zimbabwe’s resistance came mainly from Modester Mupachikwa, who top-scored with 37, and captain Josephine Nkomo, who contributed 35. The pair offered the most resistance of the innings, but neither was able to convert a start into the substantial knock the visitors so desperately needed. Sayali Satghare and Kranti Gaud provided excellent support to Vaishnavi, picking up two wickets each and ensuring that Zimbabwe could never escape the stranglehold India had established.
India’s chase was a formality from the moment the openers walked out, and it was wrapped up in just 17 overs with the loss of only two wickets. Pratika Rawal finished unbeaten on 59 off 56 balls, anchoring the innings with characteristic composure, while Shafali Verma blazed an unbeaten 51 off just 26 deliveries at the other end. The pair’s unbroken stand ensured there would be no late drama, and India crossed the line at 133 for 2 with more than half their overs still in hand.
Shafali’s fifty was particularly eye-catching. Her 26-ball half-century made it the joint second-fastest fifty by an Indian woman in ODIs, equalling Richa Ghosh’s 26-ball effort. Only captain Smriti Mandhana, with a 23-ball fifty, has reached the landmark quicker for India in the format. It was a reminder of the sheer destructive power Shafali brings to the top of the order when she finds her range early.
Pratika, meanwhile, capped a superb series by being named Player of the Series. She finished the three matches with 220 runs in three innings, a model of consistency that has made her one of the first names on the team sheet. Her ability to pace an innings, whether setting a target or chasing one, has become a defining feature of this Indian batting order.
Captain Smriti Mandhana praised her bowlers after the match, noting that keeping Zimbabwe under 140 reflected the attack’s discipline. She described the series as a good start to India’s ODI Championship campaign for the next World Cup. There was also a notable subplot at the top of the order, with Yastika Bhatia opening after two years away from ODIs, although she fell for a duck. Having already swept the T20I series 3-0, India finished the tour with a perfect 6-0 record.
