Pratika Rawal slammed her third 50-overs century after Shree Charani recorded career-best figures of 4/23 as India thrashed Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the opening women’s ODI of their three-match series on Friday. After Charani’s exploits helped India bowl out Zimbabwe for a mere 197 on a batting haven, Pratika made the most of her promotion to the opening slot, smacking an unbeaten 100 not out to anchor the chase. India went over the line making 200/1 in 27.1 overs, with their regular opening pair of skipper Smriti Mandhana (32) and vice-captain Shafali Verma (64 not out) also cashing in on the opportunity.
Pratika displayed her rich arsenal of strokes, especially along the ground, without taking any unwarranted risks. Pratika’s unbeaten hundred included 15 fours as the right-hander scored at a strike rate of over 100, well above her career strike rate. Shafali, who dropped down to number three, continued to blaze her way to another big score, clobbering four sixes and five fours to make 64 not out off 33 balls.
“(I try to) keep things simple. First thing is to accept that injuries and breaks are part of the game, so no use stressing over it. “For sure this gives me confidence but going forward I need to do my good work every day. In the eighth over, Mupachikwa went for a swipe at a wide delivery and got an outside edge off Gaud.
The ball went to Deepti Sharma (2/44), placed at second slip, but a reverse-cup attempt to grab the ball proved wrong as it popped out of the vice-captain’s hands.
I do have a good support system,” Pratika, adjudged the player of the match, said at the presentation when asked about her injury lay-off. “(India bowling coach) Avi sir (Avishkar Salvi) has told me to just give revs on the ball and just think about yourself and what you can do and bowl to your strengths,” Charani told reporters after the match.
