Pratika Rawal hundred powers India Women past Zimbabwe Women

Pratika Rawal scored an unbeaten 100 as India Women opened their three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe Women with a commanding nine-wicket win in Vadodara. India completed a chase of 198 in 27.1 overs, reaching 200 for 1 with 22.5 overs remaining after Shree Charani’s career-best 4 for 23 had led the bowling effort.

Rawal’s 100 from 96 balls was her third ODI hundred, while Shafali Verma supplied a rapid unbeaten 64 from 33 deliveries to finish the contest. Zimbabwe had been dismissed for 197 in 49.5 overs despite a fighting 62 from Beloved Biza, with Kranti Gaud taking 3 for 42 alongside Charani’s decisive spell.

Charani turns Zimbabwe innings after early resistance

Zimbabwe chose to bat on a flat pitch and lost Loryn Phiri in the third over when Kranti Gaud completed a diving return catch. India, however, missed chances in the early part of the innings. Richa Ghosh dropped Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano in the same over, while Deepti Sharma put down Modester Mupachikwa at slip from debutant Jintimani Kalita’s bowling in the eighth.

The visitors reached 46 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay, but the innings changed pace when Charani entered the attack. She began with a maiden before trapping Mugeri-Tiripano LBW with the first ball of her following over. Charani then removed Mupachikwa in her fourth consecutive over, the batter miscuing a lofted drive to mid-off.

Deepti had Sharne Mayers caught soon afterwards as Zimbabwe slipped to 70 for 4. Biza then gave the innings needed stability, sharing 43 runs for the fifth wicket with Nyasha Gwanzura and bringing up her half-century during that stand.

Michelle Mavunga provided late momentum with 29 off 23 balls, including a six over midwicket from Sayali Satghare. She had been dropped at deep midwicket on 20 by Kranti, but Charani eventually dismissed her when Kalita took the catch. That wicket began a sharp downturn for Zimbabwe, who lost three wickets for three runs.

Shafali trapped captain Nomvelo Sibanda LBW and Kranti had Biza caught at mid-off. The final pair added 14 before Deepti bowled Tendai Makusha with one ball left in the innings, leaving Zimbabwe all out for 197.

Rawal and Shafali make short work of 198 chase

India’s openers began positively in pursuit of 198. Rawal struck two boundaries in the first over, while Smriti Mandhana settled at the other end as the hosts moved to 72 without loss after the opening 10 overs.

Rawal was dropped at midwicket on 45 but continued to build a controlled innings, reaching her fifty from 54 balls. She and Mandhana added 94 for the first wicket before Mandhana, who made 32, was caught at long-on.

Shafali immediately accelerated the chase. She hit Olinder Chare for three sixes in a 20-run 26th over and brought up her fifty from only 29 balls. Her attacking stand with Rawal ended any prospect of Zimbabwe extending the contest.

Rawal completed her century with a boundary in the 27th over, and the unbeaten second-wicket partnership of 106 came from just 70 balls. India finished on 200 for 1, with Rawal on 100 not out and Shafali on 64 not out, to take a 1-0 lead in the series.