India got the better of Zimbabwe in the second T20I in Raipur.

Shafali Verma bagged Player of the Match for her splendid batting performance.

India Women produced a commanding performance against Zimbabwe Women in the second T20I, securing a comprehensive nine-wicket victory at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. After restricting the visitors to a modest total of 102/8 in 20 overs, the Indian batters made light work of the chase, reaching 104/1 in just 8.5 overs. Shafali Verma led the charge with a blistering half-century and was named Player of the Match for her outstanding contribution.

Zimbabwe struggle to build momentum after batting first

Zimbabwe Women elected to bat after winning the toss but found it difficult to establish a strong foundation against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Kelis Ndhlovu endured a frustrating start, failing to score off 11 deliveries before being dismissed. Beloved Biza managed seven runs from 13 balls, leaving the visitors under pressure during the early stages of their innings.

Chipo Mugeri Tiripano emerged as Zimbabwe’s leading run-scorer, making 34 off 32 deliveries with five boundaries. She attempted to stabilise the innings and keep the scoreboard moving, while Sharne Mayers contributed nine runs from 10 balls. However, the Indian bowlers continued to apply pressure and prevented Zimbabwe from building a substantial partnership.

Josephine Nkomo added a valuable 27 off 35 deliveries, striking two boundaries, but her innings lacked the acceleration required to push the total towards a competitive score. Modester Mupachikwa scored nine, while Michelle Mavunga chipped in with four runs. Nyasha Gwanzura and Francesca Chipare were unable to make an impact with the bat as Zimbabwe finished on 102/8.

India’s bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance, with Niki Prasad standing out by claiming two wickets for just seven runs in her two overs. Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma, Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani picked up one wicket each, ensuring that Zimbabwe never gained control of the innings.

Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana power India to victory

Chasing 103 for victory, India Women came out with an aggressive approach and immediately put the Zimbabwe bowlers under pressure. Openers Shafali and Smriti Mandhana launched a relentless assault, finding boundaries regularly and making the target look considerably smaller than it appeared at the start of the innings.

Shafali was particularly destructive, smashing 55 runs off just 25 deliveries. Her explosive knock included six fours and four sixes, allowing India to maintain a remarkable scoring rate throughout the powerplay. The right-handed batter combined clean striking with excellent placement to dismantle Zimbabwe’s bowling attack.

At the other end, Mandhana provided equally effective support with a quickfire 47 off 25 balls, including six fours and two sixes. The pair established complete control over the chase, leaving Zimbabwe with few opportunities to make a comeback. Mandhana fell just three runs short of a half-century, while Shafali’s dismissal brought Anushka Sharma to the crease. Anushka remained unbeaten on one off four deliveries as India crossed the finish line at 104/1 in 8.5 overs, completing the chase with 67 balls to spare.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters, with Nyasha Gwanzura conceding 42 runs in three overs. Beloved Biza claimed the only Indian wicket to fall, finishing with figures of one for nine in her solitary over. The nine-wicket victory highlighted India’s superiority with both bat and ball. Their bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 102/8 before the opening partnership made the chase a one-sided affair. Shafali’s explosive half-century proved decisive, earning her the Player of the Match award.

A triumphant win for the Women in Blue #cricket #INDWvZIMW #2ndT20I pic.twitter.com/oOoP9ABvfO

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) October 19, 2026

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.