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Vadodara, Oct 25:Centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma propelled India to a 121-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second women's ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, helping the hosts clinch the three-match series with a game to spare.
India posted 328/6 in their allotted 50 overs before restricting Zimbabwe to 207 in 48.5 overs to take a decisive 2-0 lead. The hosts had won the first match by nine wickets.
Harmanpreet, who struck 126 off 121 balls, was named Player of the Match, while Deepti remained unbeaten on 106 off 86 deliveries to anchor India's recovery and provide a late flourish.
India was in a tight spot after openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma fell cheaply. Mandhana was dismissed for a duck, while Shafali managed just eight runs, putting the hosts on the back foot.
Harmanpreet and Pratika Rawal steadied the innings with a 124-run partnership for the third wicket. Rawal made a valuable 61 off 67 balls, striking four boundaries and two sixes, before departing.
India suffered another setback when Tejal Hasabnis was dismissed for three. However, Harmanpreet found a dependable partner in Deepti, with the pair stitching together a 153-run stand for the fifth wicket to put India back in control.
Harmanpreet's 126-run knock, studded with 15 boundaries, marked her eighth century in women's ODIs. At the other end, Deepti accelerated as the innings progressed, striking 15 fours in her unbeaten 106 off 86 balls. She brought up her second ODI century in the final over, lifting India to a formidable total of 328/6.
Zimbabwe struggled to keep pace with the required run rate in their pursuit of 329. Modester Mupachikwa top-scored with 49 off 70 balls, while Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano added 35, but the visitors failed to build a substantial partnership capable of challenging India's total.
India's bowlers maintained control through the middle and lower order, eventually bowling Zimbabwe out for 207 in 48.5 overs.
Vaishnavi Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 4/39 in her 10 overs. Deepti complemented her batting heroics with the ball, claiming 3/32 in nine overs to help wrap up the innings and complete a comprehensive win.
The victory gives India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the third and final ODI scheduled to be played in Vadodara on October 28.
After securing a comfortable win in the opening match, India once again demonstrated their batting depth and bowling discipline. Harmanpreet and Deepti's centuries proved decisive in turning an early batting collapse into a commanding total, while the bowlers ensured Zimbabwe never mounted a serious challenge in the chase. (With inputs from ANI/BCCI)
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