Sports · Cricket · 2 hrs ago
Zimbabwe Choose to Bat First in Third ODI Against India
Zimbabwe elected to bat first in the third and final women’s one-day international against India in Vadodara.
India have already secured a 2-0 series lead after winning the first two matches convincingly.
This is the teams’ first bilateral women’s ODI series, and India are seeking a clean sweep.
In the second match, India scored 328 for six and then bowled Zimbabwe out for 207 to win by 121 runs.
India captain Smriti Mandhana made three changes, bringing in Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhatia and Harleen Deol.
Mandhana said India wanted to give its fast bowlers more time in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, while Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo said the team wanted to put runs on the board.
India will try to complete the sweep in the final match.
Zimbabwe chose to bat first after winning the toss in the third and final women’s ODI against India in Vadodara.
Captain Josephine Nkomo said the pitch looked good for batting and Zimbabwe wanted to put runs on the board.
India had already secured the series with wins in the first two matches and were seeking a clean sweep.
India captain Smriti Mandhana said her side made three changes, bringing in Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhatia and Harleen Deol.
Zimbabwe made one change, with Francisca Chipare entering the playing XI.
- Who
- Zimbabwe Women, captained by Josephine Nkomo, faced India Women, captained by Smriti Mandhana.
- What
- Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat first in the third and final ODI.
- When
- October 28, 2026. The match was scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
- Where
- BCA Stadium in Vadodara, India.
- Why
- Nkomo said the pitch looked good to bat on and Zimbabwe wanted to put runs on the board.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
India beat Zimbabwe by 121 runs in the second ODI, posting 328 for six and dismissing Zimbabwe for 207.
Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo won the toss in Vadodara and elected to bat first.
India captain Smriti Mandhana said India had made three changes to its team.
- Toss winner
- Zimbabwe Women
- Toss decision
- Bat first
- Venue
- BCA Stadium, Vadodara
- Series score before final ODI
- India led 2-0
- India changes
- Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhatia and Harleen Deol came into the side
- Zimbabwe change
- Francisca Chipare came into the side
6 sources
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What people are saying
the track looks good to bat
They have good batters in their team as well. We cannot say that they are a weak team or play differently. But they gave us a fight.
We knew that we could dismiss them given our bowling unit. That was the mindset. And I think all the bowlers did a good job. In fact, the whole team gave a good performance.