The world champion Indian women's team has made a good start in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. The Indian bowlers were all out for 197 runs in 49.5 overs in the first ODI played at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi near Vadodara on Friday. Indian spinner Sri Charani took four wickets for just 23 runs to seal Zimbabwe's victory.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first. However, in the third over of the innings, opener Lorin Phiri was caught by Kranthi Goud and sent to the pavilion. Although India had a chance to take another wicket in the same over, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh dropped a catch and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano survived. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mugeri and another opener Modester Mupachikwa tried to improve their innings together. At the end of the powerplay, Zimbabwe scored 46 runs for the loss of a wicket.

After the powerplay, captain Smriti Mandhana gave the ball to spinner Sri Charani, which yielded good results. Keeping the captain's faith, Charani sent Mugeri-Tiripano, who had scored 21 runs in her first over, back lbw. Then, in her next over, she also sent another opener, Mupachikwa, who was becoming dangerous after scoring 25 runs, to the pavilion through a Goud catch. This put Zimbabwe in trouble. Soon after, Sharn Meyers (8) was also dismissed by Deepti Sharma's bowling, slowing down the pace of Zimbabwe's score.

At this stage, Beloved Bija and Nyasha Gwanjura formed a key partnership. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking along. This partnership was also broken by Sri Charani. She dismissed Gwanjura, who had scored 13 runs, through a return catch. However, Beloved Bija continued to fight alone. Despite the wickets falling at the other end, she persevered and completed her half-century in 64 balls. Michelle Mvunga (29) tried to increase the score with some jump shots at the end, but Sri Charani took her fourth wicket by dismissing her.

Finally, Beloved Bija top-scored with 62 runs off 92 balls with 4 fours. She was dismissed by Kranthi Gowda. Zimbabwe were all out for 197 runs before the last ball of the innings when Deepti Sharma bowled Tenday Makusha. Among the Indian bowlers, Sree Charani took 4 wickets, Kranthi Goud took 3, Deepti Sharma 2, and Shafali Verma took one wicket.