Shafali and Mandhana seal T20I series as India rout Zimbabwe in 8.5 overs

India Women dismantled Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the second T20I at Raipur on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. (https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/shafali-mandhana-shine-as-india-beat-zimbabwe-by-9-wickets-to-take-unassailable-2-0-series-lead-12203596)

Zimbabwe opted to bat first but never found momentum, managing just 102 for eight in their 20 overs. Pacer Nandani Sharma castled opener Kelis Ndhlovu for an 11-ball duck, and the tourists could muster only 20 runs in the powerplay. Skipper Josephine Nkomo (27 not out) and Chipo Tiripano (34 off 32 balls) added 45 for the fourth wicket — the best partnership of the innings — before off-spinner Niki Prasad (2/7) broke through. (https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/second-womens-t20i-result-bowlers-dominate-as-india-reduce-zimbabwe-to-1028/20261018.htm)

Chasing 103, opener Shafali Verma clobbered 55 off 25 balls — her 22nd T20I half-century — in a 96-run opening stand with captain Smriti Mandhana, who finished unbeaten on 47. India reached the target in a mere 8.5 overs, with 67 balls to spare. (https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/shafali-mandhana-shine-as-india-beat-zimbabwe-by-9-wickets-to-take-unassailable-2-0-series-lead-12203596)

The result followed India’s four-wicket win in Friday’s series opener, and handed Mandhana a series triumph at the start of her full-time captaincy stint. The two sides meet again in the third and final T20I on Tuesday. (https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/cricket/india-women-vs-zimbabwe-women-2nd-t20i-ind-w-v-zim-w-shafali-verma-smriti-mandhana-match-report)