Our Bureau
Raipur
India defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the second women’s Twenty20 International (T20I) on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after a dominant performance with both bat and ball at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 103, India reached 104 for one in just 8.5 overs, with opener Shafali Verma smashing 55 off 25 deliveries and captain Smriti Mandhana remaining unbeaten on 47 off 25 balls. The victory marked Mandhana’s first series win as India’s captain.
Shafali and Mandhana put together a commanding 96-run opening partnership, taking India to 76 without loss during the powerplay. Shafali struck six fours and four sixes, while Mandhana contributed six fours and two sixes. Shafali was dismissed for 55, but Mandhana finished the chase in style with a six, leaving India with 67 balls to spare.
Earlier, Zimbabwe struggled to build momentum after being asked to bat, finishing at 102 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. India’s bowlers maintained pressure through regular wickets, restricting the visitors to a below-par total.
Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano top-scored for Zimbabwe with 34 off 32 balls, while Josephine Nkomo remained unbeaten on 27 from 35 deliveries. However, the lack of substantial partnerships prevented Zimbabwe from posting a competitive score.
India’s Niki Prasad was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets for seven runs in two overs. Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma and Sree Charani also contributed with a wicket each.
The result extended India’s advantage in the series following their victory in the opening T20I. With the series already secured, India will face Zimbabwe in the third and final match on October 20 in Raipur, providing another opportunity to assess their squad ahead of future international assignments.