भारत vs ज़िम्बाब्वे, दूसरा टी-20, शहीद वीर नारायण सिंह अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्टेडियम, रायपुर, 18 October 2026 - कमेंट्री

A bit full and outside off, Smriti works it down to long off for a single.

Around off on a length, knocked gently to mid off.

Full ball, on middle and leg, Anushka stabs it to mid on.

Full again, outside off, Sharma drives it to long off for a run.

 SIX! Done and dusted in some style by the captain. She has made that shot look so easy on the eyes. INDIA WIN BY 9 WICKETS AND 67 BALLS TO SPARE! Nicely tossed up, wide outside off. Mandhana jumps down the track, gets right underneath it and swings through the line. It pings right off the middle of the bat, and soars over the wide long off fence for a six.

Shortish delivery, around off, Mandhana rocks back and punches it wide of long off for a single.

Short and on off, Verma waits back and drags it to long on for a single.

At 78 kph, this is landed on a length, on middle, Mandhana plays the 'Nataraja' shot to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! That has got a flight number attached to it. FIFTY FOR SHAFALI VERMA! From just 24 balls, and that's her 22nd T20I half-century. This is Shafali at her very best. She reads the fuller one early and skips out of the crease before unleashing a muscly heave over deep mid-wicket for a massive six.

 OUT! CAUGHT! Fifty and out for Verma. But she has done her job for her side. Tossed up on the stumps, 72.2 kph, and Shafali dances down the track to launch it over long on, but she mistimes it and the ball doesn’t carry the distance. It goes up plenty high, and Tendai Makusha, waiting on the boundary, moves to her right and takes a very good catch on the second attempt. That ends a scintillating knock from Shafali. India Women are 96/1, needing just 7 runs to win.

Spins on the leg stump, on a good length. Anushka rocks back and nudges it to the mid-wicket fielder.

Pushed fuller on middle and leg from around the stumps, Smriti neatly drives it to long on for a single.

Shortens the length from over the stump, outside off, Verma backs away and punches it to deep extra cover for an easy single.

Back to around the stump. It is a length-delivery on the leg stump, Smriti takes a step across and whips it to deep mid-wicket for another single.

An in-dipper, full on middle, Shafali advances down the track and yorks herself. Perhaps looks for a big shot but ends up carving the ball down to long on for a single.

SIX! WOWZA! Dropped on a fullish length, in front of the sticks. Smriti Mandhana picks the length early, dances down the track and magically powers it over deep mid-wicket for a cracking six. That's gone 85 meters away.

Fuller ball, on off, pushed away to long off for an easy single.

Pushed fuller on leg, Smriti drives it along the ground to long on for a single.

 Beaten! A slingy length-delivery, wide outside off, Shafali throws the kitchen-sink at it to hit it over covers but fails to get any connection.

 FOUR! What a shot! Width on offer by Mavunga, short and outside off, Shafali reaches out and magically powers it through cover-point for a boundary. Excellent use of the bottom hand from Verma.

 FOUR! Easy pickings! Far down the leg stump, too full, Verma sits on her back knee and nails the sweep shot over short fine leg for a boundary. Shafali moves to 40 off just 18 balls.

 SIX! PUNISHED! A full ball, outside the off stump, Verma latches on it and smokes it inside out over deep extra cover for a cracking six. Absolute mayhem in Raipur.

 Beaten! Comes from around the stump and lands it on a good length, angling across the right-hander. Shafali tries to guide it to the off side behind square but misses. India have smashed 76 runs in the Powerplay itself.

 FOUR! Excellent use of the feet! Fuller from Nyasha, on middle and leg, Smriti Mandhana dances down the track and heaves it off the inner half of the bat. Doesn't quite get all of it but hits it wide of mid on for a boundary.

FOUR! In complete control this time! Pushed through, a touch full on off, Smriti Mandhana again steps out of the crease and smashes it gun-barrel straight down the ground for a boundary.

FOUR! 50 up for India in a rapid time! Drag-downer by Nyasha, on leg, Smriti Mandhana gets inside the line and nails the pull shot over backward square leg for another boundary.

 FOUR! Smriti is unleashing some really gorgeous strokes. Smidge short and outside off, Smriti Mandhana hangs back and punches it magnificently to beat the diving mid off fielder to her left for a boundary. That's five boundaries in a row for India.

Shortish delivery, outside off, Smriti knocks it down to long off for a single.

FOUR! There's no stopping to these two tonight! Lands it into the wheelhouse, full on middle, Verma jumps out of the crease and lofts it effortlessly over mid off for four more.

Short of a length, on middle and leg, Shafali hops a bit and steers it to square leg, but finds the fielder.

 SIX! Mistimed but still clears the fence! Bowls it full and around off, does Tendai. Shafali Verma gets on the front foot and unleashes a powerfully lofted hit over long off. It is not timed well but still has enough wheels to clear the ropes for half a dozen more.

Short around middle and leg. Verma hangs back and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

A full toss, wide outside off, Smriti laces it to deep point for a single.

 Beaten! Pitched short and outside off, 103.3 kph. Shafali prepares for a back-foot punch to access the off side but the ball kicks up, nips away to beat her angled bat.

 FOUR! Marvellous! Back of a length and outside off, Shafali pounces on it as she picks the length early. Smacks it over cover-point and that earns her another boundary. India need 63 runs off 96 runs.

Spins in from off, full in length, Smriti punches it back to the bowler.

 FOUR! Beautifully played! Slot ball that slides in on off, Smriti dances down the track and gracefully hammers it over the mid off fielder for a glorious four.

FOUR! That's through the gap! Shortens the length, does Nyasha, on middle, and gets the ball to spin into the batter. Smriti Mandhana backs away to create room and times it wonderfully off the back foot. Punches it away, bisecting mid off and extra cover for a boundary.

Just around off on a length, Smriti knocks it to cover.

Closer to the off pole, spinning in and around off, Smriti chops it back to the bowler.

From over the stump now. A bit short on off, with some turn and bounce. Mandhana hangs back and stabs it into covers.

Short of a length and outside off, Shafali hangs back and carves it over backward point for a single. Uh, oh! Tendai has overstepped and it is signalled No Ball. Free Hit to follow. Smriti on strike.

Beaten! Pitched on a length, around the leg stump, sliging nipping in and skidding off the surface. Mandhana swings hard across the line to pull but gets beaten on the inside edge.

Fuller onto the pads, Smriti misses the flick and the ball rolls off the front pad to square leg.

Full and outside off, 102.1 kph, Smriti drives it on the up to deep cover for a single.

 Beaten! Shapes away late, full and outside off, Verma does not get to the pitch of the ball and throws her bat at it to carve it away, but the ball keeps leaving her and beats the outside edge.

FOUR! Thumped! A slightly full ball, outside off, Verma smashes it over the mid off fielder and picks up another boundary to her name. One bounce and into the fence.

A surprise bumper now, over the left shoulder. Shafali is completely flummoxed as she takes her eyes off the ball while attempting the pull shot. Luckily for her, the ball does not contact the bat or the glove and carries through to the keeper.

FOUR! Off the mark in style! Nyasha starts with a length ball, outside off. Enough width on offer and Shafali makes complete use of it with finesse. Hangs back and cuts it late to deep third for a boundary.

Dropped short, around off, Verma hangs back and knocks it to cover.

DROPPED AND SIX! That should have been taken. Fuller in length, on middle and leg, Shafali Verma uses her bottom hand and whips it aerially towards deep mid-wicket, where Sharne Mayers stretches her hands over her head and attempts the catch with a reverse cut whilst moving to her right, but the ball bursts through and lands beyond the fence. That's the first six of the match as well.

A bit short on middle, this is heaved across to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller on leg, Smriti clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single and gets off the mark.

On a fullish length, turning in from middle to leg. Shafali takes a couple of steps forward and lofts it over mid on. The ball plugs in the outfield, landing safely to the left of long on. One run taken. A very productive opening over for India.