Vadodara, October 28: The Indian women's cricket team delivered a commanding performance today, securing an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third One Day International, thereby completing a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash. This dominant display was powered by a career-best five-wicket haul from young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma and stellar half-centuries from Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma.

Chasing a modest target of 132, India comfortably reached it in just 17 overs, losing only two wickets. Vaishnavi Sharma, playing in only her third ODI, proved to be the wrecker-in-chief, dismantling the Zimbabwean batting lineup with figures of 5 for 39 in her 10 overs. Her exceptional form continued from the second ODI where she had also picked up four wickets. Zimbabwe was bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs.

In the chase, Pratika Rawal anchored the innings with an unbeaten 59 off 56 balls, her 10th ODI fifty. She was ably supported by the aggressive Shafali Verma, who blazed her way to an unbeaten 51 off just 26 deliveries, ensuring a swift victory. Captain Smriti Mandhana had sent Yastika Bhatia to open alongside Rawal, but Bhatia was dismissed on the very first ball.

This series marked the first-ever bilateral engagement between India and Zimbabwe in women's cricket. India had previously swept the T20I series 3-0 as well, underscoring their dominance. Despite the losses, the series offered valuable experience for the Zimbabwean team against a top-ranked cricketing nation like India. Vaishnavi Sharma's strategy of giving the ball air paid rich dividends, as Zimbabwean batters struggled to cope. Modester Mupachikwa was the top scorer for the visitors with 37 runs. Along with Sharma's heroics, Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare also chipped in with two wickets each.

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