India Women survived a dramatic top-order collapse to beat Zimbabwe Women by four wickets in the first T20I at Raipur. Chasing 115, India slipped to 19/4 before Deepti Sharma and T20I debutant Niki Prasad rebuilt the innings with a match-changing 82-run partnership.
India Women vs Zimbabwe Women first T20I result
Zimbabwe Women: 114/5 in 20 overs
India Women: 116/6 in 15.4 overs
Result: India Women won by four wickets with 26 balls remaining.
Player of the Match: Deepti Sharma.
Zimbabwe post 114/5 in Raipur
Kelis Ndhlovu anchored Zimbabwe's innings with 42 from 44 balls, while Sharne Mayers provided late momentum with an unbeaten 43 from 33. Nandni Sharma finished as India's most successful bowler with 2/11, while Sree Charani, Arundhati Reddy and Kranti Goud took one wicket each.
India collapse to 19/4
India's chase began badly. Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Anushka Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur were dismissed inside the powerplay as Nyasha Gwanzura's off-spin left the hosts in serious trouble. Gwanzura eventually finished with 3/18.
Deepti and Niki turn the match
Deepti counter-attacked with composure, scoring 49 from 37 balls. At the other end, 20-year-old Niki Prasad showed remarkable calm on her T20I debut. Their 82-run fifth-wicket stand transformed the chase and took India to the brink of victory.
Although Deepti fell one run short of a half-century, Niki remained unbeaten on 39 from 35 balls and struck the winning boundary. Her debut innings gave Smriti Mandhana a winning start as India's full-time T20I captain.
A winning start to a new leadership era
The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It also marked the beginning of India's new T20I leadership phase following Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy transition.
Key performances
- Deepti Sharma: 49 from 37 balls and Player of the Match.
- Niki Prasad: 39 not out from 35 balls on T20I debut.
- Sharne Mayers: 43 not out from 33 balls.
- Kelis Ndhlovu: 42 from 44 balls.
- Nandni Sharma: 2/11 for India.
- Nyasha Gwanzura: 3/18 for Zimbabwe.