New Delhi: In women’s cricket, India defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first T20 International of the three-match series in Raipur last night. Put into bat first, Zimbabwe scored 114 for five in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, India chased down the target in just 15.4 overs, losing six wickets.
Deepti Sharma, who scored 49 off 37 balls, was adjudged the player of the match, and Niki Prasad made an unbeaten 39 off 35 balls.
This was Smriti Mandhana’s first match as full-time captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. In a special initiative, female spectators have been allowed free entry to all three T20 Internationals following a suggestion by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The second T20 International will be played tomorrow, while the third match is scheduled for the 20th of this month.
India and Zimbabwe are playing a bilateral series for the first time. The T20I series will be followed by a three-match One Day International series, with the matches scheduled to be played in Vadodara on the 23rd, 25th, and 28th of this month.
[AIR News]