Shree Charani’s 4/23 helps India bowl out Zimbabwe in 1st ODI

Shree Charani stifled the Zimbabwe batters with her career-best figures as the visitors managed only 197 all out, despite Beloved Biza’s gritty 62, in the first women’s ODI on Friday.

Charani, who notched career-best figures of 4/23, broke the back of Zimbabwe’s resolve with wickets at key intervals and, along with Kranti Gaud (3/42), ensured the visitors did not make the most of a batting-friendly wicket here in Kotambi.

The left-arm spinner took opener Modester Mupachikwa (25) and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano at the top, then dismissed Nyasha Gwanzura (13) and the dangerous-looking Michelle Mavunga to keep India in complete control. Gaud, for her part, looked undeterred by a couple of dropped catches early on and snaffled three wickets, including the prized scalp of Biza.

The Zimbabwe Number 4 Biza gave a good account of herself, displaying a fine mix of caution and aggression to make 62 off 92 balls with five fours in an innings in which she held one end strongly.

India’s domination in the field, however, was marred by ordinary fielding once again, with a few dropped catches. Zimbabwe opener Modester Mupachikwa (25) and Number 3 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (21) each got a lifeline.

On a Gaud delivery outside off, the left-handed Mugeri-Tiripano went for a drive but edged it behind, and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh failed to grab what was a regulation chance on the penultimate ball of the third over.

In the eighth over, Mupachikwa swiped 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.

Later in the game, when Michelle Mavunga was scoring quickly for her side, Gaud failed to hold onto a tough chance at deep midwicket when a powerful hit off Deepti came her way in the 40th over.