Delhi: Thanks to Shefali Verma's stormy half-century and her brilliant partnership with Smriti Mandhana, the Indian women's cricket team defeated Zimbabwe in the second T20 International. India achieved the target of 103 runs in just 8.5 overs. With this victory, Smriti Mandhana also won her first T20 series as captain. India has taken an unassailable lead in the series with one match remaining.

Shefali Verma created panic in 24 balls

While chasing the target, Shefali Verma attacked the Zimbabwe bowlers from the very beginning. He completed his half-century in just 24 balls, which included 6 fours and 4 sixes. Shefali along with Smriti Mandhana scored quick runs for the first wicket and gave a great start to India.

This was the ninth partnership of more than 50 runs between the two in 2026. With this, they equaled the joint record of most such partnerships in a calendar year in Women's T20 International.

India made the second highest score in powerplay

Zimbabwe's bowlers looked helpless in front of the aggressive batting of Shefali and Mandhana. India scored 76 runs in 6 overs of powerplay without losing any wicket, which is the team's second highest powerplay score in T20 International.

Shefali started the innings with a four and also hit a six in the same over. After this, Mandhana also took serious notice of the bowlers. In the fifth over, Shefali hit five boundaries against Nyasha Gwanjura, while in the next over she hit two consecutive fours and a six against Michelle Mavunga.

Shefali was out as soon as she completed her half-century.

Shefali completed her half-century by hitting a six in the eighth over, but was out on the very next ball. This was her ninth 50-plus score in 2026, the most by a player in Women's T20 Internationals in a calendar year.

Even after Shefali's dismissal, the pace of the Indian team did not slow down. After a few balls, captain Smriti Mandhana ended the match by hitting a six. India won with 67 balls to spare, which is the biggest win in terms of balls while chasing a target of more than 100 runs in Women's T20 International.

Indian bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 102 runs.

Before this, Indian bowlers controlled Zimbabwe's batting. Nandini Sharma gave India its first success by bowling Kelis Ndlovu in the fourth over. Zimbabwe team could score only 20 runs for one wicket in the powerplay.

After this, Zimbabwe's innings continued to falter. The team had lost its three wickets for 30 runs. However, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and captain Josephine Nkomo tried to control the innings by making a partnership of 45 runs.

Nikki Prasad took wickets on the first two balls of his career.

Nikki Prasad performed brilliantly in bowling and took two consecutive wickets on the first two balls of his career. She became only the third player to achieve this feat by combining men's and women's T20 International cricket.

Zimbabwe team could reach 102/8 with great difficulty even after losing five wickets for 75 runs in 14.2 overs. Indian bowlers did not give the opposition team a chance to score big. After this, the explosive batting of Shefali and Mandhana made India's victory one-sided.