India women edge Zimbabwe by 4 wickets in first T20I
India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first T20I, thanks to an 82-run partnership between Deepti Sharma and debutant Niki Prasad.
India's women's cricket team secured a four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first of their three T20Is, played in Raipur, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.
The match was marked by a crucial 82-run partnership between Deepti Sharma, who scored 49 runs, and Niki Prasad, who made 39 not out on her India debut. This partnership turned the tide of the game after India were reduced to 19/4 while chasing a target of 115 runs.
Deepti Sharma praised Niki Prasad's performance, saying "Niki played really well." She noted that Prasad's confidence was remarkable for a debutant, adding that it felt like Prasad had played many matches before.
The Indian team faced a tough situation but managed to stay calm. Deepti Sharma mentioned that the team didn't feel pressured during their chase, despite losing wickets. "It didn't feel like a situation where anything could happen," she said.
India now leads the three-match T20I series 1-0. Deepti Sharma expressed optimism that the team would learn from the close contest and apply those lessons in the upcoming matches.
The second T20I will be played on Sunday, Oct 18, followed by the final T2) on Oct 20. The ODI series will start on Oct 23.