Deepti Sharma, debutant Niki Prasad rescue India Women in four-wicket win over Zimbabwe
After slumping to 19 for 4 in a chase of 115 in Raipur, India recovered through a record fifth-wicket stand to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
India Women beat Zimbabwe Women by four wickets in the first T20 International in Raipur on Friday, but only after a scare in a modest chase.
Chasing 115, India lost four wickets inside the first four overs and were 19 for 4 before Deepti Sharma and 20-year-old debutant Niki Prasad steadied the innings. The pair added 82 runs for the fifth wicket, and India reached the target with 26 balls to spare.
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Deepti leads the recovery
Deepti made 49 and was named Player of the Match. Prasad, playing her first international, finished unbeaten on 39 off 35. Captain Smriti Mandhana, leading India for the first time as full-time skipper, fell cheaply in the second over.
Zimbabwe's new-ball attack made the early inroads, with India's top order failing to settle.
Zimbabwe's innings
Mandhana won the toss and chose to field. Zimbabwe made 114 for 5 in their 20 overs, built mainly around Sharne Mayers, who scored 43 not out off 33 balls, and Kelis Ndhlovu, who made 42.
India's bowlers kept things tight. Nandni Sharma took two wickets, while Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy and Shree Charani picked up one each.
Zimbabwe's total of 114 looked modest on paper, but the visitors' bowlers made India work hard for the win after reducing the hosts to 19 for 4 inside four overs. The result still gave Mandhana a winning start in her new role as captain.
What's next
The second T20I is in Raipur on October 18 and the third on October 20, according to the Tribune. A three-match ODI series in Vadodara follows from October 23. The tour is India Women's first white-ball bilateral series against Zimbabwe.
For India, the early collapse against a lower-ranked side will be a talking point, but the composure of a debutant under pressure is a positive sign as the team builds depth in its batting order.
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