Vaishnavi Sharma takes maiden fifer as India whitewash Zimbabwe in Women’s ODI series

India Women completed a clean sweep against Zimbabwe Women after securing a commanding eight-wicket victory in the third ODI in Vadodara on Wednesday, October 28. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma was the standout performer, claiming her maiden five-wicket haul in the 50-over format as the visitors were bowled out for 131.

India chased down the modest target comfortably in just 17 overs. The result sealed a 3-0 series victory for the hosts and provided another encouraging performance from India’s bowling attack, with Vaishnavi’s breakthrough spell emerging as the major talking point.

Vaishnavi Sharma claims her maiden ODI fifer

Vaishnavi delivered a memorable performance with the ball, returning figures of 5/39 in 10 overs to dismantle Zimbabwe’s batting line-up. Her spell marked her first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket and placed her among the youngest Indian women to achieve the milestone.

At 20 years and 314 days, Vaishnavi became the second-youngest Indian woman to take an ODI five-wicket haul. She also became the youngest Indian woman in a decade to register the feat, underlining the significance of her performance on the international stage.

The young spinner consistently troubled Zimbabwe’s batters with her control and variations. Her wickets helped India maintain pressure throughout the innings and prevented the visitors from building the partnerships required to post a competitive total.

Zimbabwe bowled out for 131

After winning the toss, Zimbabwe were unable to establish a strong platform with the bat. They lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually dismissed for 131 in 39.5 overs.

Modester Mupachikwa top-scored with 37 runs off 48 deliveries, but the Zimbabwean batting order struggled to convert starts into substantial contributions. Vaishnavi led India’s attack, while the supporting bowlers ensured the visitors could not recover.

India’s disciplined approach kept Zimbabwe’s scoring in check and turned the innings into a difficult rebuilding exercise for the touring side. With the total limited to 131, the hosts needed only a composed batting effort to complete the series sweep.

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Pratika Rawal leads India’s comfortable chase

India’s batters made light work of the target, reaching 133/2 in 17 overs to win by eight wickets. Pratika Rawal anchored the chase with an unbeaten 59 off 56 balls, providing the stability needed to guide the hosts home.

Her innings ensured there was little uncertainty during the pursuit. India kept the required run rate under control and avoided unnecessary risks, completing the victory with 33 overs remaining.

The result reflected India’s overall dominance across the three-match series. Their batting depth and bowling discipline consistently put Zimbabwe under pressure, while the final ODI gave Vaishnavi an opportunity to make a major contribution with the ball.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.