Harmanpreet’s 91, Shafali’s 69 Seal India’s 3-0 T20I Sweep; Prema Rawat Struggles With Ball

India completed a dominant 3-0 series sweep against Zimbabwe with a 92-run victory in the third T20I in Raipur on Tuesday. Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 91 off 41 balls and Shafali Verma’s explosive 69 powered India to 216/7, but the series finale also raised questions about some of the team’s experiments.

With the series already secured following Sunday’s nine-wicket victory, India opted to bat first for the first time in the series and made several changes to their batting order. While Harmanpreet and Shafali delivered with the bat, some of the players given opportunities struggled to make an impact.

Anushka Sharma, Niki Prasad Fail To Capitalise On Opportunities

Smriti Mandhana relinquished her opening position to Anushka Sharma, who began cautiously before finding her rhythm with cuts and punches against short deliveries outside off stump.

Anushka also struck Tendai Makusha’s half-tracker over mid-wicket for a six but fell for 28 while attempting a similar shot. Nyasha Gwanzura completed an excellent catch to end her innings.

Niki Prasad, promoted to number three, managed nine runs. After opening her account with a boundary, she miscued an aerial shot that Loryn Phiri eventually caught at mid-off after juggling the ball. The dismissal gave Gwanzura her first wicket of the match.

Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur Dominate With 84-Run Stand

India’s innings gained momentum when Shafali and Harmanpreet joined forces, putting together an 84-run partnership for the third wicket.

Shafali attacked from the outset, finding the gap through backward point against Kudzai Chigora before launching Gwanzura over wide long-on for six. She then smashed two sixes off Phiri and brought up her half-century in just 27 balls.

The aggressive opener eventually departed for 69 after holing out to long-on, but her innings had laid the foundation for India’s imposing total.

Harmanpreet, meanwhile, began steadily, scoring 11 off her first 11 deliveries before accelerating in the 13th over. She struck Chigora for a boundary over mid-off and followed it with a pull shot for six over long-on. Another maximum over deep backward square leg signalled the start of a powerful assault.

Harmanpreet’s Unbeaten 91 Powers India To 216/7

Harmanpreet continued to attack Zimbabwe’s bowlers, dancing down the track to hit Beloved Biza over long-off before sending an 82-metre six over long-on in the 16th over.

She completed her 19th T20I half-century off just 25 balls, hitting three consecutive boundaries against Sibanda.

Despite wickets falling at the other end, the Indian captain maintained her aggressive approach. She struck Makusha twice through point and launched Biza over long-off, keeping the scoring rate high.

Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy fell cheaply, but Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 91 off 41 deliveries to take India to 216/7 in 20 overs.

Prema Rawat Struggles In Bowling Opportunity

India also handed leg-spinner Prema Rawat an opportunity in place of N Sree Charani. After Zimbabwe had managed just 102 and 114 in the first two matches, Rawat had a chance to strengthen her case for a regular place in the side.

However, the spinner endured a difficult outing, conceding 36 runs in her first three overs without taking a wicket.

Introduced in the seventh over with Zimbabwe at 31/2, Rawat immediately faced pressure from Beloved Biza and Sharne Mayers. Mayers picked up a length delivery outside off stump and launched it over mid-off for six, prompting Mandhana to take Rawat out of the attack.

Rawat returned in the 12th over and conceded only seven runs, briefly appearing to have regained control. Mandhana brought her back for another over in search of a breakthrough, but Mayers attacked again.

The Zimbabwe batter struck a six over long-off, followed by a boundary behind point off a short delivery. She then cleared long-off for another maximum, with the final six bringing up her half-century.

Rawat conceded 20 runs in the over and finished wicketless, leaving India’s other bowlers to complete the job.

Nandni Sharma Leads India’s Bowling Effort

Nandni Sharma emerged as India’s standout bowler, finishing with figures of 3/18 in four overs.

Niki Prasad claimed 1/5 in two overs, dismissing Mayers in the 15th over after the batter had scored 60 off 49 deliveries. Deepti Sharma picked up 1/18, while Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy took one wicket apiece.

Mayers’ innings and Beloved Biza’s 44 provided some resistance, but Zimbabwe could manage only 124/7 in their allotted 20 overs, handing India a 92-run victory.

The result sealed a 3-0 series sweep for India, although the final match offered both positives and areas for improvement as the team assessed its batting-order changes and bowling options.

India vs Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I: Brief Scores

India: 216/7 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 91 not out, Shafali Verma 69).

Zimbabwe: 124/7 in 20 overs (Sharne Mayers 60, Beloved Biza 44; Nandni Sharma 3/18).

Result: India won by 92 runs and completed a 3-0 series sweep.