The Indian women’s cricket team is set to face Zimbabwe in the third and final T20 match on Tuesday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.
With an unassailable lead in the series, the Indian team is eager to secure a 3-0 victory.
Under the captaincy of Smriti Mandhana, India has showcased impressive performances in the first two T20 matches. Although the Indian batsmen faced some challenges in the opening game, they bounced back strongly in the second match. In that encounter, Zimbabwe batted first but managed to score only 102 runs, losing eight wickets in their 20 overs. India chased down the target of 103 runs comfortably in just 8.5 overs, losing only one wicket.
Shefali Verma was in outstanding form, scoring a quick-fire 55 runs off just 25 balls. Captain Smriti Mandhana also contributed significantly, remaining unbeaten with 47 runs from 25 balls. Shefali’s innings included six fours and four sixes, while Mandhana hit six fours and two sixes.
In bowling, Nikki Prasad emerged as the standout performer, taking two wickets for just seven runs. Kranti Gaud, Deepti Sharma, Nandini, and Shree Charani each picked up one wicket while maintaining economical bowling figures. After a strong showing in the first T20, Zimbabwe’s bowling attack struggled in the second match. In their batting lineup, only Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Josephine Nkomo offered any resistance, scoring 34 and 27 runs, respectively.
The pitch at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium is known to favor bowlers, as the ball tends to come onto the bat slowly, making it challenging for batsmen to score runs. The average first-inning score at this venue is 149, while the second innings average is 145. According to AccuWeather, clear skies are expected in Raipur on Tuesday, with minimal chances of rain, promising fans an exciting 40-over match.