Vadodara, Oct 28: Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma delivered a career-defining performance, claiming her maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket, as India Women effortlessly bowled out Zimbabwe for a mere 131 runs in 39.5 overs. This decisive third and final ODI took place at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, setting the stage for India to complete a clean sweep in the series.

Sharma’s impressive figures of 5/39 were ably supported by Sayali Satghare (2-11) and Kranti Gaud (2-23), who each bagged two crucial wickets. Their combined effort dismantled the Zimbabwean batting lineup, leaving the visitors with a modest total to defend on what was otherwise a batting-friendly pitch.

Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe's innings faltered early, suffering a middle-order collapse. Sayali drew first blood, dismissing Loryn Phiri for a duck in the second over, swiftly followed by Kranti, who sent Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (4) back to the pavilion in the third. Beloved Biza struggled to find her rhythm, departing for a single run off 16 balls, as India's tight bowling attack left no room for error.

The early wickets prevented Zimbabwe from building any significant momentum. While Modester Mupachikwa (37) and captain Josephine Nkomo (35) showed some resistance, adding 27 runs for the fourth wicket, their efforts were insufficient. Chiedza Dhururu (20) and Nyasha Gwanzura (10) were the only other batters to reach double figures, but no one could convert their starts into a substantial score. Vaishnavi Sharma capitalized on the pressure created by the seamers, systematically breaking through the middle and lower order to secure her five-wicket haul.

Zimbabwe ultimately capitulated for 131, falling well short of captain Nkomo's desired 200-run target. India's disciplined bowling performance fulfilled captain Smriti Mandhana's pre-match objective of restricting Zimbabwe to a low total, paving the way for the hosts to chase 132 runs and clinch the series 3-0.

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