India chased 115 in Raipur after slipping to 19 for four. An 82-run fifth-wicket partnership changed the opening T20I.
Deepti Sharma and debutant Niki Prasad guided India Women to a four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Raipur on October 16, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
India reached 116 for six in 15.4 overs after Zimbabwe posted 114 for five. The result is recorded in PTI’s match report published by Rediff.
The stand that changed the chase
India’s top order left the side at 19 for four. Deepti made 49 off 37 deliveries and Niki remained unbeaten on 39 as their fifth-wicket stand added 82.
The Indian Express reported that Deepti was dismissed before the finish, while Niki stayed to complete the chase. The stand should therefore not be described as an unbroken match-winning partnership.
Zimbabwe made India work
Kelis Ndhlovu’s 42 and Sharne Mayers’ unbeaten 43 contributed to Zimbabwe’s total. Nyasha Gwanzura then took three wickets during the powerplay, giving the visitors a chance of an upset.
| Zimbabwe | 114/5 |
|---|---|
| India | 116/6, 15.4 overs |
| Result | India won by four wickets |
| Key partnership | Deepti–Niki: 82 runs |
A winning start, with a warning
The result gave Smriti Mandhana a victory at the start of her full-time captaincy tenure. The batting recovery was the difference between the early pressure and the eventual result: a small target did not produce a straightforward chase.
For India, the opening game offers both a successful middle-order response and a reason to examine the early wickets. For Zimbabwe, the opening bowling spell showed that the contest was competitive despite the difference in the teams’ profiles.
This is a completed-match report from October 16, not a live score. Sources: PTI/Rediff and The Indian Express.
Featured image: representative cricket helmet, not equipment photographed at this match. Photo: Manoj Poosam / Pexels, used under the Pexels License.
The Sports Desk covers cricket, the Asian Games and Indian and international sport. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
