Josephine Nkomo wins toss, elects to bat first against Team India

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In the third ODI match against Team India, Zimbabwe’s skipper Josephine Nkomo has won the toss and elected to bat first at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi.

Zimbabwe will enter the clash with one change, with Francisca Chipare coming in place of Tendai Makusha.

After winning the toss, Zimbabwe’s skipper Nkomo said, “I would like to have a bat. It looks like a good wicket to bat on. We just need to put some runs on the board. [On changes to the playing XI] Just one change. Francisca Chipare comes in. [On the benefits of playing more international matches this year] Definitely, the exposure has been good. Now we clearly know the gap that we need to cover, and what we need to work on back at home. And it’s been a good exposure for the girls. We haven’t played at this level much, so yeah, it gives the girls an opportunity to maybe get a chance to be picked in one of these leagues. [On the team’s progress] Yeah, definitely. It’s been really good, but I just feel like we can do better. We still have a lot to offer, and we just need to keep on believing in ourselves and push ourselves to the limit. [On the target Zimbabwe would aim to post] I think anything above 250, 260 – it gives us a good fighting chance”.

On the other hand, the “Women in Blue” have made three changes. Harleen Deol replaces Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia will come in place of Richa Ghosh, and Shree Charani makes way for Kranti Gaud.

Team India’s captain Smriti Mandhana said, “We have three changes – Kranti, Harleen and Yastika come in place of Richa, Tejal Hasabnis and Shree Charani. [On India’s combination of three seamers and two spinners] Yeah, we have South Africa next, and the Champions Trophy, and considering that’s going to be night matches and a lot of dew, we did consider in all of those conditions that three pacers would be ideal. We’ll try and see what’s the best combination. But yeah, I think world cricket is moving in a way where, because we have so many part-time spinners in our team, we can always go with one extra seamer, especially in the death overs. [On giving the seamers more opportunities, particularly with the new ball] Yeah, for sure. I mean pacers with the new ball, I feel we can pick up a few more wickets for sure and get giving some more game time to pacers as we are building up to Champions Trophy, as you rightly said. So that’s the point for sure. And Kranti, Sayali, Jintimani – I feel all bowl in good areas. Of course, picking up wickets in ODI cricket is of a lot more important, so we’ll focus on that more. [What total would you want Zimbabwe to retrict to?] Well, considering the wicket, anything under 180-200 would be good because they are batting decently well, and something under… If I’d be very critical of the bowlers, under 150, under 150 would be great as a captain, but yeah, 180-200 would be something which we’ll look to restrict them”.

IND W vs ZIM W 3rd ODI: Confirmed Playing XIs

India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana(c), Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia(w), Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma.

Zimbabwe: Modester Mupachikwa(w), Loryn Phiri, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Josephine Nkomo(c), Nyasha Gwanzura, Chiedza Dhururu, Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda, Tendai Makusha, Olinder Chare.

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