Experienced Deepti Sharma and debutant Niki Prasad helped India recover from a top-order collapse to secure a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first T20I in Raipur on Friday.
India had to work harder than expected while chasing a target of 115, but recovered from losing four wickets for just 19 runs to reach the target with 4.2 overs to spare.
Smriti Mandhana began her first match as India’s full-time T20I captain with a couple of boundaries, but her dismissal triggered a collapse that left India struggling at 19 for 4 in the fourth over.
Mandhana fell for one in the second over, followed by Anushka Sharma. Harmanpreet Kaur’s wicket left India at 19 for 3 before Shafali Verma was dismissed at the same score, leaving the hosts in trouble inside the powerplay.
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Nyasha Gwanzura played a key role in the collapse, dismissing Mandhana, Anushka and Shafali with her offspin, while Michelle Mavunga sent Harmanpreet back to the pavilion. Zimbabwe, who had lost all 18 of their T20Is this year, suddenly had a chance to pull off an upset.
However, Deepti and debutant Niki had other plans.
Deepti scored 49 off 37 balls, while Niki made 39 off 35 as the pair put together an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket to bring India back into the contest and put them on course for victory.
Niki eventually sealed the win with a boundary, with India reaching the target with 4.2 overs to spare. It was a challenging start to her international career, with the youngster walking in when India were in deep trouble before helping guide them to victory.
Earlier, Zimbabwe had reached 60 for 1 after 10 overs, with Kelis Ndhlovu looking comfortable at the crease. India’s bowlers then kept the scoring in check through the middle overs. World No. 1 N Shree Charani finished with figures of 1 for 14, while Nandani Sharma took two wickets in the final over to end with 2 for 11.
Ndhlovu scored 42, while Sharne Mayers added an unbeaten 43 to help Zimbabwe finish at 114 for 5.