Vadodara, October 2026 : Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Deepti Sharma struck magnificent centuries, while young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma claimed her maiden four-wicket haul in international cricket as India defeated Zimbabwe by 121 runs in the second women’s ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday. The comprehensive victory gave India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with one game remaining.
After an early batting setback, India recovered brilliantly to post an imposing 328/6 in their allotted 50 overs. Harmanpreet scored a commanding 126 off 121 deliveries, while Deepti remained unbeaten on 106 off 86 balls. Their record-breaking 153-run partnership for the fifth wicket transformed India’s innings and laid the foundation for the victory.
Zimbabwe responded with determination, with Modester Mupachikwa scoring 49 and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano contributing 46. However, Vaishnavi’s incisive spell in the middle overs dismantled the visitors’ batting line-up. She finished with impressive figures of 4/39 from 10 overs, while Deepti returned to claim 3/32 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 207 in 48.5 overs.
The victory underlined India’s batting depth and bowling strength, with Harmanpreet and Deepti delivering match-defining performances and Vaishnavi emerging as a significant positive for the home side.
India Recover After Early Wickets
Electing to bat first, India endured a difficult start as Zimbabwe’s Nomvelo Sibanda struck in the opening over. Smriti Mandhana attempted an ill-judged pull against a short, wide delivery and was caught at short third, leaving the hosts under immediate pressure.
Sibanda struck again when Shafali Verma, who managed only eight runs, pulled the ball towards midwicket. Nyasha Gwanzura took a sharp, low catch, with the television umpire confirming the dismissal. India were reduced to 19/2, giving Zimbabwe an encouraging start.
Harmanpreet and Pratika Rawal then took responsibility for rebuilding the innings. The pair displayed patience and attacking intent, combining for a 124-run partnership for the third wicket that restored India’s momentum.
Harmanpreet looked assured against both pace and spin, relying on crisp drives, cuts and controlled back-foot strokes. She targeted Sibanda and Tendai Makusha whenever they offered width, finding the boundaries regularly.
At the other end, Pratika played with composure and confidence. She brought up the first six of the match in the 10th over, lofting Makusha over long-on. India crossed the 100-run mark in the 16th over as the partnership steadily shifted the pressure back onto Zimbabwe.
Pratika completed her half-century from 57 deliveries and followed it with an aggressive lofted six over long-on. Harmanpreet reached her fifty from 51 balls, maintaining the scoring rate without taking unnecessary risks.
Zimbabwe’s fielding was also affected by injuries. Mugeri-Tiripano hurt her right knee, while captain Josephine Nkomo left the field after a diving attempt to stop the ball.
The partnership ended in the 23rd over when Gwanzura dismissed Pratika. Having been dropped on 59, the opener swept the ball straight into the hands of deep midwicket. She departed for 61 off 67 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes.
Leg-spinner Olinder Chare struck in the following over, removing Tejal Hasabnis for three after she mistimed a slog-sweep and sent the ball towards mid-on. India were once again in need of a partnership.
Harmanpreet and Deepti Rewrite the Record Books
Harmanpreet, who had received a reprieve after being dropped on 66 by Nkomo, found a dependable partner in Deepti. The pair combined experience, calculated aggression and smart strike rotation to rebuild the innings and accelerate during the final overs.
Harmanpreet continued to exploit gaps in the field, while Deepti made the most of wayward deliveries, particularly those straying down the leg side. She repeatedly swept the ball towards the fine-leg boundary and added valuable runs through cuts and pulls.
By the second drinks break, Deepti had raced to 45 off 35 balls, while Harmanpreet was unbeaten on 88. Deepti then brought up her half-century from just 37 deliveries in the 35th over, sweeping a Sibanda full toss past square leg.
Harmanpreet moved into the nineties with an elegant drive through extra cover off Makusha before completing her century in the 41st over. She reached the milestone from 101 balls, sweeping Beloved Biza to the boundary.
It was the Indian captain’s eighth ODI century. Her celebration remained understated, as she exchanged a handshake with Deepti while her teammates applauded from the dressing room.
Harmanpreet continued to benefit from Zimbabwe’s fielding lapses. Michelle Mavunga failed to hold a diving catch at long-on, while Sibanda dropped another opportunity at backward point. The missed chances proved costly as the Indian captain continued to dominate.
India crossed 300 in the 46th over. Harmanpreet’s innings finally ended when Michelle deceived her with a slower, fuller delivery. Attempting a big hit, the captain was caught at long-off after scoring 126 from 121 balls, with 15 boundaries.
Her partnership with Deepti produced 153 runs, setting a new Indian women’s ODI record for the fifth wicket or lower. It surpassed the previous mark of 122 runs shared by Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar against Pakistan at the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup.
Richa Ghosh fell for seven in the 48th over, holing out to long-on off a Tendai Makusha full toss. Deepti, however, ensured India finished strongly.
She brought up her second ODI century in the final over, reaching the landmark from 83 deliveries with a sweep between short fine leg and square leg. It was her first ODI hundred since 2017. She remained unbeaten on 106 from 86 balls, striking 15 boundaries.
Deepti’s century was the fifth-fastest by an Indian woman in ODI cricket. She also became the first Indian woman to score an ODI hundred while batting at number six or lower, surpassing Richa Ghosh’s previous benchmark of 94 against South Africa during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in Visakhapatnam.
Zimbabwe Start Positively Before Vaishnavi Turns the Game
Chasing 329, Zimbabwe began aggressively. Mupachikwa struck two boundaries from the first two deliveries of Sayali Satghare’s opening over, while India’s seamers initially struggled to maintain consistent lines. The opener continued to punish short deliveries and balls drifting towards the pads.
India secured their first breakthrough in the ninth over when N Sree Charani dismissed Loryn Phiri for six, with the batter caught at short midwicket. Zimbabwe’s opening partnership had added 38 runs.
Mugeri-Tiripano then counterattacked, striking three boundaries in a single over from Charani. She and Mupachikwa added 69 runs for the second wicket, keeping Zimbabwe in contention during the early stages of the chase.
Sayali broke the partnership in the 23rd over, bowling Mugeri-Tiripano for 46 with a delivery that moved back through the gap between bat and pad.
Vaishnavi then took control of the contest. Introduced into the playing eleven in place of the rested Kranti Gaud, the left-arm spinner varied her pace and flight to trouble Zimbabwe’s middle order.
Switching to an over-the-wicket angle, Vaishnavi claimed her maiden ODI wicket when Mupachikwa, on 49, sliced a delivery straight to backward point. The dismissal was a major turning point, as Zimbabwe lost a well-set batter just short of a half-century.
Beloved Biza attempted to keep the chase alive with aggressive strokes against the spinners. However, Vaishnavi trapped her leg before wicket for 34, with India successfully reviewing the on-field decision.
The young spinner then dismissed Michelle Mavunga for three with a beautifully flighted delivery that clipped the top of off-stump. Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo, who had earlier survived a dropped chance by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, was also beaten by Vaishnavi’s flight and dismissed leg-before for 20. The decision was upheld after Zimbabwe reviewed it.
Vaishnavi completed an outstanding spell of 4/39 from her 10 overs, breaking the backbone of the Zimbabwean batting line-up and establishing herself as one of the standout performers of the match.
Deepti Completes All-Round Performance
Deepti Sharma reinforced India’s dominance during the closing stages of the chase. After Nyasha Gwanzura entertained briefly with Zimbabwe’s first six of the innings, Deepti trapped her leg-before wicket. She then dismissed Sibanda, who edged the next delivery to slip.
Although Deepti narrowly missed a hat-trick, she returned to remove Tendai Makusha, who played a leading edge towards backward point. Her three wickets complemented her century and highlighted her value as an all-rounder.
Jintimani Kalita completed the innings in the 49th over, claiming her first ODI wicket when Chiedza Dhururu chipped the ball straight to cover. Zimbabwe were dismissed for 207 in 48.5 overs, handing India a convincing 121-run victory.
India’s performance combined a remarkable recovery with the bat and a disciplined bowling display. Harmanpreet’s century provided the innings with stability and momentum, Deepti’s unbeaten hundred powered the late acceleration, and Vaishnavi’s breakthrough spell ensured the visitors could not sustain their chase.
With the three-match series now decided at 2-0, India will look to complete a clean sweep in the final ODI. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will need to address their fielding lapses and middle-order collapse after showing promise during the opening phase of both innings.
Brief Scores
India: 328/6 in 50 overs
Harmanpreet Kaur 126, Deepti Sharma 106 not out, Pratika Rawal 61; Nomvelo Sibanda 2/38, Nyasha Gwanzura 1/43.
Zimbabwe: 207 all out in 48.5 overs
Modester Mupachikwa 49, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 46; Vaishnavi Sharma 4/39, Deepti Sharma 3/32.
Result: India won by 121 runs and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Player highlights: Harmanpreet Kaur’s 126, Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 106 and Vaishnavi Sharma’s 4/39.
