Vaishnavi Sharma claimed her maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs before Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma struck unbeaten half-centuries to guide India to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the third ODI in Vadodara on Wednesday (October 28).

The hosts completed a 3-0 sweep of the series, having also won the preceding T20I series by the same margin.

Vaishnavi returned figures of 5 for 39 from her 10 overs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs after opting to bat. Rawal then scored 59 not out off 56 balls, while Shafali smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 26 deliveries to take India home in just 17 overs.

Zimbabwe, who opted to bat, never gained any momentum after India struck twice inside the first three overs. Sayali Satghare had Loryn Phiri caught behind for a duck, while Kranti Gaud removed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, caught by Shafali at slip. Zimbabwe had managed only 12 runs by the end of the third over, with India's new-ball bowlers keeping the scoring in check through disciplined lines and movement.

Vaishnavi, playing only her third ODI, made an immediate impact after coming on in the 10th over. Beloved Biza, Zimbabwe's best batter on this tour, attempted to advance against the spinner but could only offer a catch to Harmanpreet Kaur at mid-on, departing for 1 off 16 balls.

Modester Mupachikwa offered some resistance, striking boundaries to keep the innings moving, even as wickets continued to fall at the other end. The opener reached 37 off 48 deliveries, with seven fours, before Vaishnavi beat her as she came down the track and Yastika Bhatia completed the stumping to leave Zimbabwe 52 for 4 in the 16th over.

Josephine Nkomo and Chiedza Dhururu tried to rebuild through a patient fifth-wicket partnership. Nkomo, who had struggled to score freely early on, found some support from Dhururu as the pair added 43 runs. However, Vaishnavi broke the stand in the 28th over when Dhururu chipped a delivery towards extra cover, where Jintimani Kalita took the catch.

Vaishnavi struck twice more in quick succession, dismissing Michelle Mavunga and Nyasha Gwanzura to leave Zimbabwe eight down. Satghare bowled Olinder Chare for a duck, and Nomvelo Sibanda was run out for three as the visitors were dismissed with more than 10 overs unused. Gaud and Satghare supported Vaishnavi with two wickets apiece.

India's chase began with a surprise as Yastika, playing her first ODI in two years, fell for a first-ball duck. Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol, who was playing her first match of the series, quickly steadied the innings. Rawal was particularly fluent, finding the boundary regularly, while Deol contributed 19 off 19 balls before being caught behind off Loryn Phiri. India were 59 for 2 in the ninth over.

Shafali, batting at No. 4 rather than her usual opening position, joined Rawal and ensured there would be no further setbacks. She attacked from the outset, combining clean hitting with aggressive footwork to race to her half-century in just 24 balls, the second-fastest ODI fifty by an Indian woman. Her six fours and three sixes helped India accelerate through the chase as the pair added an unbroken 74 off 50 deliveries. Rawal remained unbeaten on 59, while Shafali finished on 51 not out as India crossed the line comfortably, drawing the curtains on a thoroughly dominant series.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 131 in 39.5 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 37; Vaishnavi Sharma 5-39, Sayali Satghare 2-11) lost to India 133/2 in 17 overs (Pratika Rawal 59*, Shafali Verma 51*; Nomvelo Sibanda 1-18) by eight wickets