Raipur: Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 91 and Shafali Verma’s explosive 69 powered India to a comprehensive 92-run win over Zimbabwe in the third and final women’s T20 International on Wednesday, completing a 3-0 clean sweep of the series.
Batting first after winning the toss, India posted an imposing 216 for seven in their 20 overs. Harmanpreet struck 91 not out off just 41 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries and five sixes, while Shafali smashed 69 off 37 balls, including six fours and five sixes.
Shafali and Anushka Sharma provided India with a brisk start, adding 54 runs for the opening wicket. Anushka contributed 28 off 20 balls before Harmanpreet accelerated the scoring with an aggressive display against the Zimbabwean attack. Beloved Biza was the pick of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, finishing with three wickets for 50 runs.
Chasing a daunting target of 217, Zimbabwe struggled to keep pace with the required run rate and finished at 124 for seven in 20 overs. Sharne Mayers top-scored with 60 off 49 balls, while Beloved Biza added 44, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to make a significant contribution.
Nandini Sharma led India’s bowling effort with figures of three for 18 in her four overs, effectively stalling Zimbabwe’s chase and ensuring a comfortable victory for the hosts.
The 92-run triumph sealed India’s 3-0 series sweep. The result was also reported as the largest victory margin by runs in a women’s T20 International played on Indian soil.
