New skipper Smriti flops as India struggle to beat Zimbabwe

India skipper Smriti Mandhana in Raipur on Friday. Pic/BCCI

India survived a major scare before debutant Niki Prasad and veteran Deepti Sharma combined to take the hosts to a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first Women's T20 here on Friday.

Opener Kelis Ndhlovu played some crisp strokes in her 44-ball 42 and Sharne Mayers smashed an unbeaten 43 off 33 balls, but India still managed to restrict Zimbabwe to 114-5.

At 19-4, India were in all sorts of trouble before Niki (39 not out off 35) and Deepti (49 off 37 balls) steadied the ship with an 82-run stand. India eventually got the job done in 15.4 overs.

The Indian batters were guilty of throwing their wickets away with off-spinner Nyasha Gwanzura striking thrice in the Powerplay. Mandhana fell on the first ball of the second over offering a sitter to the fielder at square leg. The match also marked the beginning of Smriti Mandhana's captaincy era.

India and Zimbabwe are playing a bilateral series for the first time.

Earlier, Ndhlovu made a timely impact on the big stage with her range of shots. She was quick to cut and pull anything short, besides driving the ball effectively down the ground.

[popcorn number="82" desc="No. of runs put on by T20I debutant Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma on Friday - the highest partnership for the fifth wicket or lower by Indian women in T20Is" class="Default"]

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