India 116 for 6 (Deepti 49, Prasad 39*, Gwanzura 3-18) beat Zimbabwe 114 for 5 (Mayers 43*, Ndhlovu 42, Nandani 2-11, Charani 1-14) by four wickets
India’s top-order wobble
India took 14 runs off the opening over bowled by Tendai Makusha to get their 115-run chase underway in top gear. Mandhana heaved a short ball over midwicket before getting a toe-end to deep third, where Sharne Mayers misfielded. When Shafali ended the over with a crisp drive through cover-point, it looked as if India would make easy work of the paltry ask.
Zimbabwe brought on offspin against Mandhana, like most teams do in T20Is these days, and were quickly rewarded, even if it wasn’t a wicket-taking ball. Gwanzura bowler her first ball short on middle, and Mandhana could take hit wherever she wanted. But she only managed a top-edge when she rocked back to pull it over square leg and Makusha took it safely in the ring. A ball after Anusha cut a shortish ball through point, Gwanzura had her reaching out to a flighted ball and slice it to backward point.
Former India captain Harmanpreet Kaur then whipped a full length ball on leg straight to midwicket off Michelle Mavunga, who bowls with a slingy action. When Gwanzura had Shafali caught off her own bowling at the start of the fourth over, it looked as if the wheels of India’s run-chase might truly come off.
Prasad, Deepti show how it’s done
Prasad began her stint as an India batter with four dot balls after walking in at 19 for 3, having earlier received her cap from Mandhana. Soon, in Deepti’s company, she started to find her feet. Prasad was happy to bide her time and rotate the strike, letting her senior partner take charge. Deepti heaved Mavunga, who started with a wicket-maiden, over forward square leg before hitting two fours off Gwanzura, who bowled the last over of the powerplay.
Prasad then showed why she is rated highly as a batter, continuing her form from the India A series against Australia A earlier this month. She creamed Francisca Chipare through midwicket for her first four in internationals before timing a punched drive through extra cover. That second shot had no extravagance. It was just a mere transfer of weight forward against the length ball, where she waited a little extra before push-driving it between mid-off and covers. When Deepti and Prasad combined to take 15 from the 10th over bowled by legspinner Olinder Chare, India were well and truly back in the driver’s seat.
Deepti then took a liking to Mavunga, hitting her for three fours in an over as she eyed a fifty. But she only top-edged an attempted sweep to short fine leg. India also lost Richa Ghosh soon, when she fell two balls after hitting a six against offspinner Beloved Biza. But Prasad ensured that she stayed till the finish to see India through.
Ndhlovu, Mayers sparkle for Zimbabwe
Mayers took on Reddy in the 18th over, hitting her for a six and two back-to-back fours that took Zimbabwe past 100. Nandani Sharma then took two wickets in two balls in the last over to restrict Zimbabwe to a total that wasn’t enough for a fight, even if they tried to make a fist of it.
S Sudarshanan is a sub-editor at Cricinfo. @Sudarshanan7