India Women completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe with a 92-run victory in the third and final match in Raipur.
Harmanpreet Kaur smashed an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls, while Shafali Verma struck 69 off 37 deliveries as India posted 216/7, their joint-third-highest total in women’s T20Is.
Zimbabwe managed 124/7 in reply despite Sharne Mayers’ 60 and Beloved Biza’s 44. Nandani Sharma led India’s bowling attack with figures of 3/18.
The result secured a successful first series for Smriti Mandhana as India’s full-time T20I captain.
India vs Zimbabwe 3rd Women’s T20I: Match Summary
| Match detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Match | 3rd Women’s T20I |
| Venue | Raipur |
| India Women | 216/7 (20 overs) |
| Zimbabwe Women | 124/7 (20 overs) |
| Match result | India won by 92 runs |
| Series result | India won the three-match series 3-0 |
| India top scorer | Harmanpreet Kaur (91* off 41) |
| Zimbabwe top scorer | Sharne Mayers (60) |
| Best bowling figures | Nandani Sharma (3/18) |
Shafali Verma Gives India a Strong Start
India made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Prema Rawat for the rested N Shree Charani.
After winning the toss, Mandhana elected to bat but decided not to open the innings. Instead, Anushka Sharma partnered Shafali Verma as India looked to provide additional batting opportunities to their middle order.
Shafali started cautiously before hitting Tendai Makusha for six over deep backward square leg in the second over. Anushka also took time to settle but found boundaries against Nomvelo Sibanda in the following over.
The opening pair added 50 runs inside five overs, including 16 from Makusha’s second over.
Zimbabwe broke the partnership when Nyasha Gwanzura completed an athletic leaping catch at midwicket to dismiss Anushka after a 20-ball innings.
Niki Prasad arrived at No. 3 but departed soon afterwards. She attempted an attacking stroke against Gwanzura and sliced the ball towards mid-off, where Loryn Phiri completed a difficult rebound catch.
Despite losing two partners, Shafali continued attacking. She struck three sixes and a four across five deliveries, reaching her 23rd T20I half-century from just 26 balls. It was her ninth fifty of 2026.
Harmanpreet Kaur Smashes Unbeaten 91
Harmanpreet entered at No. 4 after limited batting opportunities earlier in the series. She had scored just one run in the opening match and did not bat in the second T20I. The experienced batter initially took time to settle, hitting only one boundary from her first 12 deliveries.
She then accelerated dramatically, collecting 20 runs from an over bowled by Chigora, including two fours and two sixes.
Harmanpreet and Shafali shared an 84-run partnership before Shafali departed for 69 off 37 balls.
With India losing wickets at the other end, Harmanpreet continued to attack.
She struck three boundaries in an over from Sibanda and brought up her 19th T20I half-century. Two of her biggest hits came against Biza, whom she launched for sixes measuring 82 and 89 metres.
Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy fell during the closing stages, but Harmanpreet remained unbeaten. She entered the final over on 81 and added another 10 runs to finish on 91 from 41 deliveries, including 10 fours and five sixes. It was her second-highest individual score in women’s T20Is.
India closed their innings on 216/7, giving Zimbabwe a target of 217.
Zimbabwe Lose Two Early Wickets in Chase
Zimbabwe’s pursuit began poorly when Kranti Gaud struck with her first delivery. Kelis Ndhlovu chased a wide ball outside off stump and sliced it towards short extra cover, where Prasad completed a sharp diving catch to her right.
Nandani Sharma added another breakthrough in the second over, dismissing Modester Mupachikwa for 1 after she edged behind.
With two early wickets down, Zimbabwe needed a substantial partnership to remain competitive.
Mayers and Biza attempted to rebuild through careful batting and strike rotation. Mayers struck two sixes and a four as the pair brought up their fifty partnership.
However, Zimbabwe reached only 62/2 after 10 overs, leaving them requiring 155 runs from the remaining 60 deliveries.
Sharne Mayers Hits Fifty but Zimbabwe Fall Behind
Mayers tried to accelerate against Prema Rawat, hitting the spinner for two sixes and a four. She completed her half-century from 45 balls in the 14th over, keeping Zimbabwe’s innings moving despite the increasing required run rate. Her partnership with Biza eventually reached 82 runs, providing Zimbabwe’s main resistance.
However, Mayers departed in the following over after mistiming an attempted attacking shot against a full, flighted delivery outside off stump. She finished with 60, while Biza contributed 44.
Their efforts were not enough to challenge India’s total.
Nandani Sharma Takes Three Wickets as India Complete Victory
India’s bowlers maintained control throughout Zimbabwe’s innings. Nandani finished with 3/18, including two wickets in the final over. Arundhati Reddy and Deepti Sharma also claimed one wicket each as Zimbabwe lost wickets towards the end of the chase.
The visitors eventually finished on 124/7, handing India a 92-run victory.
Zimbabwe’s Beloved Biza also impressed with the ball earlier in the match, taking 3/50, while several excellent catches helped restrict India’s scoring.
However, Harmanpreet’s innings and India’s bowling proved decisive.
India Complete 3-0 Series Sweep Under Smriti Mandhana
India’s victory capped an unbeaten T20I series under Mandhana’s full-time captaincy. The hosts had faced difficulties in the opening match, recovering from 19/4 to chase 115 and win by four wickets.
They improved considerably in the second T20I, securing a nine-wicket victory before producing their highest total of the series in the final match.
Shafali’s consistent batting, Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 91 and contributions from India’s bowling attack were among the major positives.
India will now turn their attention to the three-match women’s ODI series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to begin on October 23 in Vadodara.
