Harmanpreet Kaur was brutal and Deepti Sharma sublime as their twin centuries headlined India’s commanding 121-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second women’s ODI on Sunday. India thus took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first match by a comfortable nine-wicket margin. Having posted a formidable 328 for 6, the home team’s spinners, led by left-arm orthodox bowler Vaishnavi Sharma (4/32), bowled Zimbabwe out for a paltry 207 in 48.5 overs. After scoring her century, Deepti polished off the opposition tail with figures of 3 for 32. Harmanpreet, whose second coming as a pure batter has been nothing short of breathtaking, struck 126 off 121 balls, laced with 15 well-timed boundaries. This was Harmanpreet’s eighth WODI century after she had struck a match-winning 91 in one of the WT20Is earlier on the tour.
She had an able companion in Deepti, who remained unbeaten on 106 off 86 balls, with 15 hits to the fence.
Harmanpreet regaled a sizable crowd with her sublime play on the off side. Her copybook cover drives and cut shots were a delight to watch.
The former India captain shared a 153-run stand with all-rounder Deepti, who scored her century off 86 balls, as the two veterans took India to a commanding total.
It is the first time that India and Zimbabwe are playing a bilateral series, providing the visitors with an ideal opportunity to learn from a top side.
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