India Beat Zimbabwe by Nine Wickets to Seal T20I Series

India defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the second women’s T20I on October 18, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with one game remaining. The hosts chased a target of 103 in 8.5 overs after restricting Zimbabwe to 102 for eight in its allotted 20 overs. Shafali Verma scored 55 from 25 balls and Smriti Mandhana made an unbeaten 47 as India reached 104 for one. The opening pair added 96 runs, putting India in control of the chase before Verma was dismissed. Mandhana finished the match with a six. Zimbabwe struggled to build a substantial total after choosing to bat. India’s bowlers kept the scoring in check, and Zimbabwe had made 30 for three by 8.1 overs. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano scored 34 from 32 balls, while captain Josephine Nkomo remained unbeaten on 27. Their 45-run fourth-wicket partnership provided Zimbabwe’s main recovery before Niki Prasad dismissed Mugeri-Tiripano and later had Nyasha Gwanzura lbw. Prasad took two wickets as India limited Zimbabwe to 102 for eight. The total left India needing 103 to win, a target the openers reached in less than nine overs. Verma’s innings included a series of boundaries against Zimbabwe’s bowlers, while...