Correspondent, 16 October: Smriti Mandhana's tenure as full-time captain commenced with a victory, as the Indian women's team defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in the opening match of their T20 series. Played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, the match saw the Indian side secure the win, though they had to work hard to chase down the target.
After winning the toss, Captain Mandhana opted to bowl first. Zimbabwe managed a strong start, reaching 60 for the loss of one wicket in the first 10 overs. Opening batter Kelis Ndhlovu scored a rapid 42 runs off her initial 30 deliveries. However, the Indian bowling attack bounced back, preventing her from scoring a single run on the next 14 consecutive balls. Sharne Mayers remained unbeaten with a 43-run innings. The Indian bowlers maintained accurate lines, restricting Zimbabwe to a total of 114 runs in 20 overs. Fast bowler Nandani Sharma claimed two wickets for India, while Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, and Sree Charani picked up one wicket each.
While chasing the 115-run target, it was widely anticipated that the Indian team would wrap up the match within 10 to 12 overs. Instead, the first 19 deliveries delivered a surprising turn of events. Zimbabwe's fast bowler Nyasha Gwanzura wreaked havoc, taking four wickets for just 19 runs. The dismissed batters included captain Mandhana, newly appointed vice-captain Shafali Verma, former captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and Anushka Sharma. Out of these four prominent batters, three wickets were claimed solely by Gwanzura. This unexpected collapse sparked fears that Zimbabwe might script a historic upset.
Facing a challenging situation, 20-year-old Niki Prasad, making her international cricket debut, alongside seasoned all-rounder Deepti Sharma, stabilized the innings. Prasad scored an unbeaten 39 runs, while Sharma contributed a vital 49 runs. Together, they forged a crucial 82-run partnership off 63 balls, effectively sealing the victory for their side. India ultimately achieved the target in 15.4 overs, losing six wickets in the process.
