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Harmanpreet and Deepti hit hundreds as India women beat Zimbabwe by 121 runs
A record fifth-wicket stand of 153 took India to 328 for 6 in Vadodara, and Vaishnavi Sharma's four wickets sealed the three-match series with a game to spare.
Key points
- India made 328 for 6 after Harmanpreet Kaur's 126 and Deepti Sharma's unbeaten 106.
- Zimbabwe were bowled out for 207, with Vaishnavi Sharma taking 4 for 39.
- India lead the series 2-0, with the final match on Wednesday, 28 October.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma both made centuries at the Kotambi stadium in Vadodara on Sunday as India women beat Zimbabwe by 121 runs in the second one-day international and took the three-match series with a game to spare.
India, who chose to bat after winning the toss, reached 328 for 6. Zimbabwe fought for longer than in the series opener but were bowled out for 207 in 48.5 overs, with Vaishnavi Sharma taking 4 for 39 in only her second ODI.
From 19 for 2 to 328
The innings did not start well. Captain Smriti Mandhana was out second ball without scoring, Shafali Verma went for 8, and Nomvelo Sibanda had India at 19 for 2.
Harmanpreet and Pratika Rawal repaired the damage with a stand of 124 for the third wicket. Rawal, who scored a hundred in Friday’s opener, made 61 off 67 balls before falling. Harmanpreet kept going and was joined by Deepti, and the pair then took the game away from Zimbabwe.
They added 153 for the fifth wicket off 137 balls, India’s highest partnership for the fifth wicket or lower in women’s ODIs. Harmanpreet made 126 off 121 balls with 15 fours, her eighth ODI hundred. Deepti was unbeaten on 106 off 86 balls, also with 15 fours, reaching three figures in 83 balls.
At the innings break, Harmanpreet spoke about the conditions and her partners.
“After losing two wickets, Pratika and I had a very good partnership and then Deepti did the magic on the pitch.”
She added: “I just want to enjoy myself on the field.”
Vaishnavi breaks Zimbabwe open
Zimbabwe’s reply had its moments. Modester Mupachikwa made 49 and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 46, and for a while the visitors kept wickets in hand.
Vaishnavi, brought in for the rested fast bowler Kranti Goud, ended that resistance with a burst in the middle overs that brought her a first four-wicket haul in international cricket. Deepti then completed a fine all-round day with 3 for 32 as the tail folded. Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare and N Sree Charani took a wicket each.
Sibanda, with 2 for 38, was the pick of Zimbabwe’s bowlers.
What comes next
The win gives Mandhana her first series victory as India’s full-time ODI captain, a week after India swept the T20 international series against Zimbabwe 3-0 in Raipur.
The third and final ODI is at the same ground on Wednesday, 28 October, when India will be chasing a clean sweep.