IND-W vs ZIM-W Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! Shafali Verma finishes things off in style! Nyasha Gwanzura floats it up, full and on middle. Verma gets under it and thumps it over the bowler's head for a boundary. INDIA WOMEN WIN BY 9 WICKETS!

FOUR! HUNDRED FOR PRATIKA RAWAL! A magnificent knock, and she has shown once again why this is her favourite format. She brings up her 3rd ODI ton, and the entire Indian dugout is up on their feet. This is fuller in length and on middle. Rawal clears her front leg and lofts it over mid on for four more runs. She takes off her helmet and raises her bat to soak in all the applause.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Back of a length and outside off. Pratika Rawal slashes hard at it and gets an outside edge that races to the third man fence for a boundary. She moves to 96 now.

Pitched up, on middle, Pratika Rawal forces it to mid on.

Full again, on middle and leg, Pratika Rawal clips it through mid-wicket for a brace. She moves to 92 and India Women need 10 more runs to win.

Fuller and on middle, Pratika Rawal drills it to mid on.

Short of a length and outside off, Pratika Rawal tries to cut but misses.

SIX! Third six of the over, and Shafali is in a hurry now! Olinder Chare gives this some more air, full and outside off. Shafali Verma uses her feet to go inside out, extends her arms and carves it over extra cover for half a dozen more. India Women need 12 runs to win now.

Drops it short, on middle, Pratika Rawal swats it down to long on for one more.

Flatter, full and on off, Shafali Verma drills it to sweeper cover for one.

Floated, short and on off, Shafali Verma stabs it out to short cover.

SIX! FIFTY FOR VERMA! Off just 29 balls and she gets to it in some style as well. Two half-centuries in the T20I series, and now one here in the first ODI after coming to bat at number 3. This is flighted, full and on middle. Shafali Verma skips down the track and tonks it over the long on fence for another biggie.

SIX! THWACK! It didn't look perfectly timed at first, but she hit it with such brute force that it sailed all the way over the rope. A bit full on the stumps, Shafali advances down the track and clubs it over the leaping long on fielder for a six. She gallops to 47!

On the stumps and full, Rawal drills it straight back to the bowler.

Full and spinning in, Rawal clips it to short mid-wicket.

FOUR! Another beautifully timed stroke! A loopy full ball, outside the off stump, Rawal reaches out in front and lofts it over the extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Quicker through the air, full in length, Verma uses her feet and drags it down to long on for a single.

Another length ball on the stumps, spinning in, Rawal steers it through backward square leg for a single.

FOUR! So well-timed! Short by Biza, just outside off. Pratika Rawal hangs deep inside the crease and magnificently cuts it between cover-point and backward point for a cracking boundary.

Pulls the length back, outside off, Rawal rocks back and cuts it to deep point for an easy single. 12 runs off the over.

Drifting in on the leg stump at 69.4 kph, Pratika shovels the full ball and hits it to mid-wicket.

On a lower trajectory, outside off, Verma cuts it off the back foot to deep backward point for a single.

SIX! Goes the distance and Shafali is in a hurry now! Pitched full and outside the off stump. Shafali Verma gets down on a knee and sends it sailing over the long on fence for an 87-meter six. A powerful hit.

Around off on a length, punched firmly to cover.

FOUR! Brute force by Shafali! Olinder lands it full and on the stumps, Verma jumps down the track and clubs it powerfully and straight down the ground. Before anyone at long off and long on could even move a muscle, the ball crashes into the fence.

Stump-to-stump on a fuller length, Verma shimmies down the track and drives it to long on for a single and with that the 50-run partnership comes up between Rawal and Shafali.

Flatter and quicker, full and outside off, Verma drives it firmly to short cover.

Pushed through, full on leg, Rawal clips it along the turf to long on for another run.

Around off and short, Shafali shifts to the leg side and crunches it to the left of long off for one more.

Darted on a fuller length, on off, Rawal gets a bit hurried on her shot and chips it off the toe end towards long off for a single.

Tossed up, full on off, 70.7 kph, Pratika leans on and drives it straight to short cover.

Wide outside off, on a length, Rawal cuts it through cover-point for an easy single. The partnership is now worth 46 and India need just 58 runs to win.

Not all that short, on off, Verma backs away and strokes it to widish long off for a single.

Serves it short and outside off, Rawal hangs back and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Full on middle, sweetly driven to short cover.

Fractionally short, on off, Rawal hangs back and knocks it back to the bowler.

Pitched slightly full and on off, Shafali advances down the track to swing it over long on but gets it off the toe end and the ball goes on the bounce towards long on for a single.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Another short delivery by Biza, there to be put away. Rawal goes deep inside the crease and nails the pull shot over mid-wicket for a cracking boundary. She moves to 75 now. India need 62 runs to win.

Short at just 69.9 kph, outside off, Rawal punches it towards cover.

Around middle and leg, Verma pulls the short ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A tad short, outside off, Shafali cuts it away but straight to cover-point.

FOUR! MUSCLED! Flat and full, on middle, Shafali dances down the track, gets her bat under the ball and thumps it aerially and gun-barrel straight down the ground for a boundary.

Dropped short, on leg, Rawal hangs back and drags it to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted, full and on middle, Shafali Verma uses her feet and slogs it wide of long on, where the fielder runs to her right and grabs it on the bounce. Two taken.

Slows it up, full and around off, Pratika Rawal reaches out and taps it to short cover.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Pratika Rawal clips it to short mid-wicket.

Floated, full and on middle, Shafali Verma steps out and drills it to long on for another run.

Short again, around off, Pratika Rawal opens the bat face and steers it through point for a run.

Short and on off, Shafali Verma punches it to long off for a single.

Flighted, full and on middle, Shafali Verma uses her feet and whips it to deep mid-wicket for one more. India Women need 78 more runs to win.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Pratika Rawal eases it down to long on for one.

Floated, full and on off, Pratika Rawal stays back and pushes it to short cover.

Drags her length back, on off, Pratika Rawal punches it to short cover.

Short again, on off, Shafali Verma stabs it back towards the bowler. Beloved Biza fails to judge the spin and lets it through for a run.

Shorter in length, on off, Pratika Rawal pats it to long off for a single.

Loops it up, full and on off, Shafali Verma uses her feet and jams it out to extra cover.

Dragged back, outside off, Pratika Rawal punches it through cover-point for one.

Tossed up, full and on off, Shafali Verma drills it to long off for another run.

Short and outside off, Pratika Rawal cuts it away to deep point for a single.

Flighted, full and on off, Shafali Verma eases it to long off for a run.

FOUR! Top shot! Floated, full and around off. Shafali Verma leans into the drive and crunches it through covers for a boundary. Lovely extension and weight transfer on that one.

Fires this one, full and on middle, Shafali Verma jams it to long on for one more.

FOUR! There is no stopping that one! Loryn Phiri bowls this short again, outside off. Shafali Verma frees her arms and cuts it powerfully past point for a blazing boundary.

Dragged back, on of, Pratika Rawal forces it down to long off for one.

Short again, on leg, Shafali Verma nudges it towards square leg for another run.

Short and on off, Pratika Rawal punches it to long off for a run.

Floated, full and on middle, Shafali Verma drills it to long on for a single. 100 up for India Women! They need 98 more runs to win.

More air on this one, full and on middle, Pratika Rawal defends it on the front foot.

FOUR! Excellent shot! Shorter in length and well outside off. Pratika Rawal uses the width on offer and cuts it away with pure timing through the point region. Three fielders converge, but none of them can stop the boundary.

Flighted, full and on off, Shafali Verma drives it to long off for a run.

OUT! TAKEN! Olinder Chare breaks the 94-run opening stand. She tosses it up, full and around middle. Smriti Mandhana sipes down the track to go big down the ground but she does not quite get to the pitch of it. She gets more height than distance as the ball goes miles in the air towards long on, where Beloved Biza settles under it and takes a good catch.

Short again, around off, Pratika Rawal guides it through point for a single.

Floated, short and on middle, Pratika Rawal jabs it to short mid-wicket.

A bit short, on middle, Pratika Rawal pats it towards mid on and scampers across for a run.

FOUR! Nice use of the feet! Flighted, full and on off. Pratika Rawal dances down the track to get to the pitch of it and lofts it over mid off for a boundary.

Flatter, full and on off, Smriti Mandhana eases it down to long off for a run.

Floated, full and on off, Smriti Mandhana drills it towards mid on.

Short again, on off, Pratika Rawal punches it through covers for a single.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR RAWAL! A classy knock and she marks her return to the ODI side with her 9th ODI half-century. Hasn't played any shot in anger, just purely timing the ball and finding gaps regularly. Short and outside off, Pratika Rawal gets the chance to free her arms and crunches it through point for a boundary.

Looped up, full and on off, Pratika Rawal drills it to sweeper cover for one.

Slows it up, full and on middle and off, Pratika Rawal knocks it down the pitch.

Flatter, full and around off, skids through. Pratika Rawal strides out to drive but misses.

Goes short, on off, Pratika Rawal punches it to short cover.

Tossed up, full and on off, Pratika Rawal pushes it to short cover.

Short and around leg, Smriti Mandhana nudges it through square leg for a single.

A bit short, on leg, Smriti Mandhana clips it through square leg for one more.

Flatter, full and on middle, Smriti Mandhana turns it to the leg side.

Goes short, around off, Pratika Rawal punches it through covers for a run.

Put down! Dragged back, on middle, Pratika Rawal tries to heave it away but does not get any elevation. It flies flat towards short mid-wicket, where Nomvelo Sibanda dives forward, gets her fingertips on it but fails to hold on.

Floated, full and on off, Pratika Rawal taps it to short cover.

Uppish but safe! Shorter in length and around middle Smriti Mandhana rocks back and pulls it but gets not timing. It flies towards deep mid-wicket, where the fielder runs forward and dives but fails to reach it. They cross.

A high full toss now, on middle, Pratika Rawal almost gets taken aback by it and stabs it back to the bowler.

Back of a length and around leg, Smriti Mandhana heaves it away to deep square leg for one.

On a length and on middle, Smriti Mandhana pats it to the left of the bowler.

In the blockhole, on off, Pratika Rawal opens the bat face and squeezes it out to third man for a run.

Short of a length and outside off, Pratika Rawal cuts it hard but straight to point.

A full toss, around off, Smriti Mandhana drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Just short! Slows it up, full and on middle, Pratika Rawal looks to work it across the line but gets a leading edge. It goes in the air but drops just in front of the bowler.

Flatter, full and around off, Pratika Rawal opens the bat face and steers it to point.

Dragged back, on off, Pratika Rawal moves back and swats it to short mid-wicket.

A bit short, on middle, Smriti Mandhana stays back and just chips it over mid-wicket for a run.

Floated, full and on leg, Pratika Rawal clips it through square leg for a single.

Tossed up, full and on off, Pratika Rawal prods forward and blocks it out.

A skiddy delivery, on a length, outside the off stump. Mandhana is pegged back and tries to punch it to the off side but gets an inside edge. The ball shoots past the leg stump and rolls to short fine leg. At the end of the Powerplay, India Women are 72/0, needing 126 runs to win!

Fuller ball, around off, 109.2 kph, Mandhana checks the drive it to cover-point.

In-between length, 105.9 kph, outside off, Rawal hangs back and cuts it behind square on the off side for an easy single.

On middle and leg, on a length, this is dinked wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Far outside off again with the length pulled back. Mandhana has a slash at it but misses to connect as the ball skids through.

Swing and a miss! Very full and outside off, angling away, Smriti Mandhana throws her bat at it to drive it away to the off side but the ball keeps leaving and zips past the outside edge.

A wee bit short and Mandhana fetches it from outside off before dragging it to deep mid-wicket for a single. India need 128 runs in 246 balls.

Length-delivery, on off, drifting in, Mandhana punches it off the back foot to extra cover.

Around off and full, driven with a straight bat to mid off.

Not full and not too short either, somewhere in between. Pratika sinks her back knee into the pitch and sweep-pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Length ball, outside off, Mandhana backs away and knocks it between cover and point for a single.

Phiri is into the attack now! Starts from around the stumps with a full ball, outside off, eased off the front foot to backward point.

A wide yorker at 104.7 kph, outside off, Rawal crouches and jams the bat down in time. Opens the bat face late, and carves it to pierce the gap but the backward point fielder makes a sharp dive to stop the ball.

Wide! Misfires a short ball beyond the tramline, outside off. Rawal leaves.

The length is dragged back, outside off, Rawal punches it away to backward point.

A touch full now, around off, Rawal eases it back to the bowler off the front foot.

Length-delivery on the stumps, nipping in, Rawal gets behind the line and blocks.

FOUR! Goodness me, that's a fine, fine shot! Short of a length by Makusha, on off, Pratika picks the length early and magnificently pulls it over the mid-wicket fielder for a boundary.

Outside off on a good length, Rawal tries to steer it tothe off side but misses as the ball skids through.

FOUR MORE! Zimbabwe just cannot stop the leakage of runs at the moment. Not a great delivery either as this is on the pads, on a length. Not much pace so Mandhana has all the time in the world to get a bit across and jab it through the square leg and short fine leg gap for a boundary. She moves to 22, does the Indian skipper.

Pitched outside leg, full in length, Mandhana clips it to square leg.

Landed full and outside off, Rawal drives it towards backward point. The fielder dives to her left and makes a half-stop, allowing the batters to steal a single.

FOUR! Sumptuous! Long half-volley, far outside off. Width on offer, accepted gleefully by Pratika. She leans on it and absolutely creams it through cover-point for a boundary. That's her sixth boundary so far.

Full and straight, outside off, Rawal steers it to the backward point fielder.

A bit full and outside off, Rawal is happy to leave it alone.

Pitched short and outside off, Rawal stands up on her toes and cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

Beaten! Fullish delivery, just outside off, Rawal plays inside the line as she tries to drive it away and gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! Easy pickings for Rawal. 50 up for India in a super quick time. Strays it down the pads, full in length. Rawal rolls her wrists and just whips it over short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

Keeps it stump-to-stump, on that 6-8 meter length. Rawal hangs back and knocks it to short cover.

On middle and leg, on a good length, Rawal stabs it across to the leg side, just beside the pitch.

Makusha is into the attack now! Back of a length, outside off, 103.4 kph, Rawal is happy to let that go.

Holds on the surface a touch, on a length and angling in. Mandhana is a bit early in her pull shot and toes it on the bounce to short mid-wicket. India need 150 runs to win!

Short of a length, a bit quicker at 102.8 kph, outside off. Smriti Mandhana plays off the back foot and punches it crisply to deep extra cover. Sharne Mayers runs to her left from deep point and makes a fine diving stop. Two runs taken.

Full at 99.9 kph, Mandhana drills it down to mid on.

Length ball, on off, Mandhana eases it to mid off.

FOUR! Change of angle but the result is the same! Michelle comes from around the stump and bowls a length-delivery, angling it into the batter. Smriti Mandhana hangs back and marvellously whips it to the left of the mid-wicket fielder for a boundary. No shot hit with anger so far. Just pure timing.

FOUR! Helped away! Ordinary start by Mavunga, as this is spilled down the leg stump, on a fullish length. Smriti Mandhana gets inside the line and just helps it fine to the leg side to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Short again, around off, Mandhana knocks it through cover-point for a single.

Short outside off, 78.7 kph. Rawal hangs back and punches it to the left of mid off for a single.

A bit short on the leg stump, Mandhana presses back and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Gorgeous stroke, sweetly timed! Pitched short and outside off. Mandhana uses the depth of the crease by pressing back and slaps it along the ground to the off side. Threads the gap between the diving cover and mid-off fielders for a boundary.

Good work in the deep! Not all that short, on middle, Pratika Rawal is quick to get on the back foot and pulls it over the short mid-wicket fielder. Dhururu, who is a good ten yards in off the ropes in the deep, sprints to her left and dives to save a few runs. Ordinary running by the batters though as they take just a single.

Spins from middle to leg, full in length, driven back to the bowler.

Pulls the length back, on the stumps, Pratika rocks back and pulls it across to the mid-wicket region. The fielder there makes a half-stop to her left and parries the ball to mid on for a single.

Flirting with the tramline, outside off, Rawal lets it be.

Wide! Down the leg stump line, on a good length, Rawal misses the clip. The keeper grabs it sharply to her left.

Good running! A hint of inswing, full on the pads, Pratika clips it behind square on the leg side. Sharne Mayers covers a lot of ground to her right and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

On the stumps and full, 92.6 kph, Rawal presses forward and defends with a straight bat.

Around off on a length, Rawal taps it in thereabouts of cover-point.

FOUR! Delicate and efficient! Angled outside the off stump, on a good length. Pratika Rawal allows the ball to come at her, opens the bat face by standing deep in the crease and just dabs it to the left of the diving short third fielder as the ball speeds to the fence.

Short and outside off, Rawal presses back and cuts it to deep backward point for a single. Another good over for India, 10 runs from it.

FOUR! That's just too easy! Nyasha slips in a full toss, outside off, Pratika Rawal gets into a good position before whacking it through the extra cover and mid off gap for a cracking boundary.

Nicely floated, full and outside off, Rawal drives it to short cover.

Wide! Far outside off and beyond the tramline. Rawal lets it through.

At 78.8 kph, on a length, on the stumps, Mandhana gets across and whips it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Short of a length, outside off, Rawal stands tall and taps it wide of backward point for a single.

From around the stump, Nyasha drops it short and around off, Pratika Rawal hangs back and punches it crisply to deep extra cover. The sweeper from deep point runs and dives to her right and saves a couple of runs. Oh, the on-field umpires are checking whether there was a short run at the bowling end, but the replay shows there was just enough bat behind the line.

Short of a length, on off, Pratika rocks back and punches it through cover-point for a single. A very productive opening over for the hosts. India are 12/0, needing 186 runs.

FOUR! Finds the gap! A tad back of a length, honing in on the leg stump. Pratika transfers the weight on the back foot and pulls it to the deep square leg region, beating deep fine leg fielder to her left for a boundary.

FOUR! Neatly done! A bit too straight and sprayed on the pads, Pratika Rawal waits for it, uses her wrists and tickles it through the vacant short fine leg region for a boundary. Not an ideal line and length especially with two fielders outside the ring on the off side.

Nagging length, on top of off, Rawal presses back and knocks it to the left of the bowler.

Swings away from the southpaw, full outside off, Smriti creams it to deep extra cover for a single. The skipper, too, opens her account.

Back of a length, on the leg stump, Pratika hangs back and steers it to deep square leg for a single and gets off the mark.

Wide! Starts with a loose one. Gets a bit of an inswing, but down leg, Rawal misses to whip it across. The keeper is standing up to the stumps and grabs it to her left.