India secured a comprehensive 3-0 ODI series sweep over Zimbabwe on Wednesday in Vadodara, powered by a stellar bowling performance from Vaishnavi Sharma and a blistering chase led by Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma. Following an earlier 3-0 victory in the T20I series, India confirmed their dominance by chasing down a target of 132 in just 17 overs to claim an eight-wicket win. Vaishnavi Sharma claimed her maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs before Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma struck unbeaten half-centuries to guide India to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the third ODI in Vadodara on Wednesday (October 28). Having also won the preceding T20I series by the same margin, the hosts completed a 3-0 sweep of the series.
Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe struggled to find any momentum as India’s pace attack dismantled their top order early. Sayali Satghare dismissed Loryn Phiri for a duck, while Kranti Gaud accounted for Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, leaving the visitors reeling at 12 runs by the end of the third over. Disciplined lines and consistent movement ensured the hosts maintained control throughout the opening powerplay.
Vaishnavi Sharma, appearing in only her third ODI, dominated the middle overs.
She struck in the 10th over to remove the dangerous Beloved Biza for just one run. Though Modester Mupachikwa provided some resistance with a 48-ball 37, Vaishnavi curtailed her innings with a sharp stumping by Yastika Bhatia. The spinner continued her spree, breaking a 43-run partnership between Josephine Nkomo and Chiedza Dhururu before dismissing Michelle Mavunga and Nyasha Gwanzura. Vaishnavi finished with career-best figures of 5 for 39 from 10 overs, supported by two wickets each from Gaud and Satghare as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs. Beloved Biza, Zimbabwe’s best batter on this tour, attempted to advance against the spinner but could only offer a catch to Harmanpreet Kaur at mid-on, departing for 1 off 16 balls. With seven fours, before Vaishnavi beat her as she came down the track and Yastika Bhatia completed the stumping to leave Zimbabwe 52 for 4 in the 16th over, the opener reached 37 off 48 deliveries. However, Vaishnavi broke the stand in the 28th over when Dhururu chipped a delivery towards extra cover, where Jintimani Kalita took the catch. 4 rather than her usual opening position, joined Rawal and ensured there would be no further setbacks. Brief scores: Zimbabwe 131 in 39.5 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 37; Vaishnavi Sharma 5-39, Sayali Satghare 2-11) lost to India 133/2 in 17 overs (Pratika Rawal 59*, Shafali Verma 51*; Nomvelo Sibanda 1-18) by eight wickets.
The Indian reply faced an immediate setback when Yastika, returning to the side after two years, fell for a first-ball duck. However, Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol stabilized the innings, pushing the score to 59 before Deol was caught behind for 19. Shafali Verma then moved to the No. 4 spot to join Rawal, and the pair neutralized the target with an unbeaten 74-run stand off just 50 deliveries.
Shafali was particularly aggressive, producing an unbeaten 51 from only 26 balls, including six fours and three sixes. Her effort marked the second-fastest ODI half-century by an Indian woman, defined by clean hitting and quick footwork. Rawal anchored the other end with a solid 59 not out off 56 balls, guiding India to 133 for 2. The match concluded a thoroughly one-sided series, with Nomvelo Sibanda providing the only consolation wicket for the visitors during the final chase. Combining clean hitting with aggressive footwork to race to her half-century in just 24 balls, the second-fastest ODI fifty by an Indian woman, she attacked from the outset.
