Vadodara, October 23: Zimbabwe's stand-in captain Nomvelo Sibanda expressed her team's disappointment after their nine-wicket loss to world champions India in the first ODI at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi. Sibanda admitted her side was 'around 100 runs short' of a competitive total and rued crucial dropped catches that cost them dearly.

Zimbabwe, after being put in to bat, were bowled out for 197 in 49.5 overs, with Beloved Biza top-scoring with a resilient 62 runs. In response, India comfortably chased down the target in just 27.1 overs, powered by Pratika Rawal's unbeaten 100 and Shafali Verma's explosive 64 not out off only 34 balls.

“We did not play as well as we wanted. We were like 100 runs short, and then in some of our fielding as well, we did not complement our bowlers enough. Those chances that we put down,” Sibanda stated after the match. She highlighted early breakthroughs, like Kranti Gaud dismissing Loryn Phiri, were undermined by missed opportunities, including drops by Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma.

Sibanda acknowledged India's aggressive batting and the need for her bowlers to maintain consistent line and length on a flat pitch. Despite the defeat, she appreciated the support from their fans, affectionately termed 'Beloved Bees'. The team now looks to regroup for the remaining matches in the series.

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