Harmanpreet's 91*, Shafali's 69 Power India Women to 92-Run Win and 3-0 Sweep of Zimbabwe
India Women completed a 3-0 sweep of Zimbabwe Women in the T20I series, winning the third and final match by 92 runs in Raipur on Tuesday, October 20. Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls, and Shafali Verma hit 69 off 37 as India posted 216 for 7.
With the series already won, captain Smriti Mandhana opted not to open the batting and gave her middle order more game time. Anushka Sharma partnered Shafali at the top instead. India's innings was built on the stand between Harmanpreet and Shafali. Shafali struck six fours and five sixes in her innings, and the pair put on 84 together.
Harmanpreet then took charge. The former India captain hit 10 fours and five sixes in her innings, and it was her second-highest score in T20Is. Only her 103 against New Zealand in 2018 is higher. It was also a welcome return to form for her. Beloved Biza was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers with 3 for 50, although she conceded plenty of runs. India finished on 216 for 7 after 20 overs.
Zimbabwe never came close in their chase. They were restricted to 124 for 7 in their 20 overs. Sharne Mayers made 60, the only batter to offer any real resistance. For India, Nandani Sharma was the pick of the bowlers. She finished with figures of 3 for 18, including two wickets in the final over.
The win gave India a clean sweep in the series, with all three matches played in Raipur. It was a perfect first T20I series for Mandhana as India's full-time captain, a role she took over from Harmanpreet. India had already sealed the series with victory in the second match.
Shafali was named the ICC Women's Player of the Month for September earlier this week, after scoring 360 runs in seven T20Is across the Women's Asia Cup and the Asian Games. Her 69 in Raipur added another half-century to that run of form.