India survived a major scare before debutant Niki Prasad and veteran <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/team-india-all-rounder-deepti-sharma-purchases-a-new-mercedes-car-23646286" rel="nofollow">Deepti Sharma</a> combined to take the hosts to a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first Women&rsquo;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 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/womens-t20-world-cup-2026-smriti-mandhana-speaks-about-the-change-in-her-batting-ahead-of-clash-against-pakistan-23634995" rel="nofollow">Smriti Mandhana</a>&rsquo;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 &mdash; the highest partnership for the fifth wicket or lower by Indian women in T20Is" class="Default"]
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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.

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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.

New skipper Smriti flops as India struggle to beat Zimbabwe

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