Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana tore into the Zimbabwe attack with a terrific opening stand as India stormed to a nine-wicket win in the second women’s T20I on Sunday. They have clinched the three-match
series with a game to spare. Chasing a modest 103, the hosts needed just 8.5 overs to finish the job. Shafali smashed a 25-ball 55 packed with six fours and four sixes, while captain Mandhana remained unbeaten on 47 off the same number of deliveries. The pair put on 96 runs before Shafali finally fell, caught off Beloved Biza. Anushka Sharma came in and stayed with Mandhana to finish the formalities in style as India chased it down.
CAPTAIN SMRITI MANDHANA ERA – INDIA WON THE T20I SERIES 🇮🇳🔥 https://t.co/4SkVSVFWJy
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 18, 2026
Earlier in the match Zimbabwe chose to bat and never really recovered from a stuttering start. Opener Kelis Ndhlovu was bowled for a duck by Nandani Sharma, and the visitors managed only 20 runs in the powerplay. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (34 off 32) and skipper Josephine Nkomo (27 not out) offered the only real resistance, adding 45 for the fourth wicket.
Niki Prasad shines with 2 for 7 as India dominate Zimbabwe in second T20I
India’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout. Young off-spinner Niki Prasad, playing only her second T20I, returned excellent figures of 2 for 7, breaking the key partnership and picking up another wicket in quick succession. The rest of the attack chipped in to restrict Zimbabwe to 102 for 8. India’s openers attacked from the first ball. Shafali in particular looked in destructive form, racing to her half-century in just 24 balls and clearing the boundary with ease.
Mandhana matched her stroke for stroke with the pair racing past 50 inside the powerplay. India had won the first match of the series by four wickets on Friday after a mid-innings collapse was rescued by Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad. The second T20I performance was far more clinical and showed the gulf between the sides. The third and final T20I will also be played in Raipur on Tuesday. This series has been a steep big curve for Zimbabwe against a strong Indian unit.
