Lady Chevrons lose first ODI to India despite Biza's 62

Zimbabwe's Lady Chevrons lost by nine wickets to India in the first one-day international between the two women's teams, played in Vadodara on Friday. India now lead the three-match series 1-0, India Today reports.

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat, but were bowled out for 197 with one ball of their 50 overs left. India reached the target with 22.5 overs to spare, ESPNcricinfo reports.

How the match went

Zimbabwe lost opener Loryn Phiri early and slipped to 70 for four in the 18th over, according to ESPNcricinfo. Beloved Biza held the innings together with 62 off 92 balls, including five fours, mid-day and NewsBytes report. Michelle Mavunga added a quick 29 off 23 balls and Modester Mupachikwa made 25.

From 170 for six after 40 overs, Zimbabwe lost three wickets for 13 runs, ESPNcricinfo reports. Spinner N Shree Charani took four wickets for 23 runs, her best ODI figures, and Kranti Gaud took three for 42.

"I was looking to play straight and bat for as many overs as I can," Biza said at the innings break, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "Just wanted to maintain focus and enjoy my cricket."

India's reply was quick. Pratika Rawal finished on 100 not out off 96 balls, her third ODI century, and Shafali Verma hit 64 not out off 33 balls, ESPNcricinfo reports. The only India wicket to fall was captain Smriti Mandhana, caught at long-on off Olinder Chare's leg-spin after an opening stand of 94.

Nomvelo Sibanda captained Zimbabwe in place of Josephine Nkomo, who missed the match with a minor injury, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Why it matters

This is the Lady Chevrons' first bilateral series against India, a landmark tour for Zimbabwe women's cricket. All three ODIs are in Vadodara and count towards the ICC Women's Championship, News18 reports, and Youth Village Zimbabwe notes that points earned feed into qualification for global tournaments. India are the reigning ODI world champions after winning the World Cup in November 2025, ESPNcricinfo notes.

Zimbabwe arrived with some confidence. In September they beat West Indies by four wickets for their first ever win in the Women's Championship, News18 reports. The tour has been tough so far, though: India won the earlier T20 series 3-0.

Biza's knock was her fourth ODI fifty, NewsBytes reports, and her third half-century in four innings in Asia. Zimbabwe will hope more of the top order can stay with her in the remaining two games.

What's next

The second ODI is scheduled for Sunday, 25 October, at the same ground.

Updates

20:25 GMT, Wednesday 28 OctoberLatest

India beat the Lady Chevrons by eight wickets in the third and final ODI in Vadodara on Wednesday to win the series 3-0, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz report. India had already won the T20I series between the sides 3-0. Zimbabwe chose to bat and were bowled out for 131 in 39.5 overs. Opener Modester Mupachikwa top-scored with 37, ESPNcricinfo's report shows, and NDTV said captain Josephine Nkomo added 35. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma took five for 39, her first five-wicket haul in ODIs, after four wickets in the second match. India reached 133 for two in 17 overs, with Pratika Rawal unbeaten on 59 off 56 balls and Shafali Verma unbeaten on 51 off 26. Nomvelo Sibanda took one for 18 for Zimbabwe. Sportstar, which called this Zimbabwe's first tour of India, said the batters struggled to rotate the strike, facing 193 dot balls out of 237. Read source

16:45 GMT, Sunday 25 October

India beat the Lady Chevrons by 121 runs in the second ODI in Vadodara on Sunday to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, ESPNcricinfo and India Today report. India chose to bat and recovered from 19 for two to make 328 for six. Nomvelo Sibanda removed captain Smriti Mandhana for a duck and Shafali Verma early, but Harmanpreet Kaur (126 off 121 balls) and Deepti Sharma (106 not out off 86) put on 153 for the fifth wicket, after Pratika Rawal's 61. Michelle Mavunga was Zimbabwe's most economical bowler, with one for 47 from her ten overs. Zimbabwe, with Josephine Nkomo back as captain, were bowled out for 207 in 48.5 overs. Modester Mupachikwa made 49 and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 46 in a second-wicket stand of 69, and Beloved Biza added 34. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma took four for 39 and Deepti three for 32, ESPNcricinfo's scorecard shows. India Today said Zimbabwe had "managed to interrupt India's progress" when they had the hosts at 145 for four, before the Harmanpreet and Deepti stand took the game away. The third and final ODI is also in Vadodara. Read source

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