Pratika Rawal’s Unbeaten Hundred and Shree Charani’s 4‑for‑23 Lead India to a 9‑Wicket Victory over Zimbabwe

Vadodara – On a sunny Friday in Kotambi, the Indian women’s cricket team turned the opening ODI of their three‑match series against Zimbabwe into a masterclass. After a disciplined spell by Shree Charani that yielded a career‑best 4 for 23, the batting unit walked in with a clear plan: chase 198 runs and do it with a smile.

Opening the innings, Pratika Rawal, freshly promoted to the top of the order, wasted no time. She paced herself, smashed 15 fours and kept the strike rotating, eventually reaching the three‑figure mark unbeaten. Her hundred came off 96 balls at a strike‑rate just above 100 – a noticeable bump from her usual tempo, but one that felt natural on the batting‑friendly pitch.

While Rawal anchored the chase, the regular openers also chipped in. Captain Smriti Mandhana contributed 32 before she fell to Beloved Biza’s delivery in the 16th over, after a 94‑run partnership set a steady foundation. Shafali Verma, slipping down to number three, turned the heat up, blasting four sixes and five fours to finish on 64 not out off just 33 deliveries.

Zimbabwe, bowled out for 197, never really got a foothold on the surface. Their top‑order starter Modester Mupachikwa (25) and Chipo Mugeri‑Tiripano (21) fell early to Charani’s left‑arm spin, which later also dismissed Nyasha Gwanzura (13) and the dangerous Michelle Mavunga (29). Charani’s figures of 4/23, complemented by Kranti Gaud’s 3/42, ensured the visitors could not capitalise on the benign conditions.

The lone highlight for Zimbabwe was Biza’s gritty 62 off 92 balls, a blend of caution and aggression that kept her side in the hunt for a while. Yet the wickets kept tumbling at crucial moments, and the required run‑rate never really crept up.

India’s chase was clinical. With just one wicket lost, they reached 200 for 1 in 27.1 overs, winning by nine wickets. The partnership between Rawal and Verma was the talk of the day – a seamless blend of power and finesse, with the right‑hander guiding the innings while the left‑hander finished it off with flair.

Fielding, however, was a mixed bag. A couple of dropped catches – Richa Ghosh missing a simple edge off Gaud and Deepti Sharma fumble at second slip – reminded everyone that there’s still room for improvement, even in a dominant performance.

All in all, the match underscored India’s depth. A rising star’s unbeaten ton, a bowler’s breakthrough spell, and experienced openers all clicked together to deliver a convincing 9‑wicket win, setting the tone for the series ahead.