'I analysed the Australian batters…': Verma on attempt to be consistent

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In the second T20I match against Zimbabwe, Team India emerged victorious by nine wickets at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.

During the match, Team India’s explosive opening batswoman Shafali Verma played a knock of 55 runs in just 25 deliveries. Her knock included six boundaries and four maximums.

After the match, Verma said that she analysed the Australian batswomen to improve her consistency.

“In 2025, when I was back at home, I was thinking about what I can improve. Consistency was one of those things and I analysed the Australian batters to see what they were doing to try and improve,” she said during the post-match presentation.

Skipper Smriti Mandhana was also delighted to see Verma deliver in a series-deciding match. She also heaped praise on the bowlers for striking early wickets.

“Shafali was just doing her thing and I was happy to take singles. And when my chances came, I took them. That’s the brand we want to play. It was a good one today. The bowlers were really on the mark today, and they were much better than the first match,” she said.

“Of course, Deepti, Shree Charani and Niki Prasad came in and took those two wickets. We had discussed after the last match because we saw them bat in the first game and we had some plans. But you can have good plans but you need to execute and today the bowlers were on the mark,” added Mandhana.

With this, the “Women in Blue” have sealed the series by 2-0, with one game yet to be played. The third T20I match against Zimbabwe will be played on October 20 at the same venue.

IND W vs ZIM W 2nd T20I: Match summary

With an aim of chasing the target of 103 runs, the “Women in Blue” scored 104 runs for the loss of one wicket in 8.5 overs.

Opening batswoman Shafali Verma departed after scoring 55 runs. Her knock of 25 balls also included six boundaries and four maximums. Captain Smriti Mandhana and Anushka Sharma stayed unbeaten. Facing 25 balls, Mandhana garnered 47 runs, with the help of six boundaries and two maximums, whereas Anushka scored one run in four balls.

Zimbabwe‘s Beloved Biza claimed one wicket by conceding nine runs in one over. Nyasha Gwanzura, Tendai Makusha, Mitchel Mavunga, and Olinder Chare went wicketless in the second T20I match against the “Women in Blue”.

Earlier, having opted to bat first, Zimbabwe’s opening batswoman Kellies Ndlovu was dismissed on a 11-ball duck, whereas fellow opening batswoman Beloved Biza departed after scoring seven runs in 13 balls.

Sharne Mayers managed to score nine runs in 10 balls, which included two boundaries. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano played a crucial knock of 34 runs in 32 balls, with the help of five boundaries.

Nyasha Guwanzura returned to the pavilion on a one-ball duck. Mitchel Mavunga scored four runs in four balls, including a boundary. Wicketkeeper-batswoman Modester Mupachikwa registered nine runs in 11 balls, including a boundary. Skipper Josephine Nkomo accumulated an unbeaten 27 runs. Facing 35 deliveries, she smashed two boundaries. Francesca Chipare departed on a three-ball duck. With this, the visitors posted a total of 102 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

Team India‘s Niki Prasad returned with the figures of two wickets for seven runs in two overs. Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, and Deepti Sharma claimed one wicket each. Arundhati Reddy and Shafali Verma went wicketless in the second T20I match against Zimbabwe.

(With PTI Inputs)

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