Zimbabwe Women lost the three-match ODI series to India after a 121-run defeat in Vadodara. Despite reducing India to 19/2 and 148/4, the Lady Chevrons could not stop Harmanpreet Kaur (126) and Deepti Sharma (106 not out), who added 153 runs as India posted 328/6.
ZIMBABWE Women had India 19 for two inside three overs and later 148 for four, but Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma put on 153 for the fifth wicket to turn a promising start into a 121-run defeat in the second ODI in Vadodara on Sunday.
The result gave India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, leaving the Lady Chevrons with one game to salvage something from the tour.
Zimbabwe had every reason to be encouraged by their opening spell.
Nomvelo Sibanda removed India captain Smriti Mandhana for a duck and Shafali Verma for eight, both caught inside the first 2.4 overs, to leave the hosts struggling at 19 for two.
Pratika Rawal helped steady the innings with 61 before Nyasha Gwanzura had her caught by Beloved Biza.
Olinder Chare then dismissed Tejal Hasabnis for three, reducing India to 148 for four in the 24th over.
Zimbabwe had taken four wickets before the halfway stage and had an opportunity to keep India below 300.
Kaur and Deepti made sure that did not happen.
The pair added 153 for the fifth wicket, with Kaur scoring 126 from 121 deliveries and Deepti finishing unbeaten on 106 from 86 balls.
Both struck 15 fours as India’s middle order took control of an innings that had briefly looked vulnerable.
Michelle Mavunga eventually removed Kaur and finished with one for 47 from 10 overs, the most economical figures among Zimbabwe’s main bowlers.
Tendai Makusha took one for 71, while Gwanzura returned one for 43.
Zimbabwe also conceded 14 extras, including eight wides and a no-ball, as India finished on 328 for six.
The target of 329 demanded a strong start, and Zimbabwe initially kept themselves in the contest.
They reached 47 for one after 10 overs, with Modester Mupachikwa and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano providing much of the early resistance.
The pair added 69 for the second wicket, Mupachikwa making 49 from 70 balls with nine fours and Mugeri-Tiripano contributing 46 from 57 deliveries, including seven boundaries.
Zimbabwe reached 100 at the end of the 19th over, but the scoring slowed as India began taking wickets.
By the time the visitors were 120 for three in the 28th over, the required rate had climbed beyond seven runs an over.
Beloved Biza made 34 and Josephine Nkomo contributed 22, while Gwanzura struck 20 from 18 balls, including a six.
There were useful contributions, but nobody managed the long innings Zimbabwe needed to make a serious attempt at the target.
At 154 for four in the 38th over, the Lady Chevrons were already well behind the required rate.
They lost their remaining six wickets for 53 runs and were dismissed for 207 in 48.5 overs.
Vaishnavi Sharma took four for 39, while Deepti completed an excellent all-round performance with three for 32.
For Zimbabwe, the frustration will be in how the match changed after they had removed four Indian batters for 148.
Sibanda’s early wickets had given them a foothold, and the dismissals of Rawal and Hasabnis offered another chance to restrict the hosts.
Instead, Kaur and Deepti added 153 without Zimbabwe finding a way to separate them.
The Lady Chevrons also had a reasonable start to their chase, but Mupachikwa and Mugeri-Tiripano’s partnership was not followed by the substantial innings needed to keep pace with India’s total.
Zimbabwe now head into the final ODI looking to avoid a series whitewash after losing the opener by nine wickets and the second match by 121 runs.
