Vadodara: Indian captain Smriti Mandhana lauded her team's exceptional batting performance, which saw them post a formidable 328 runs against Zimbabwe in the second One-Day International, despite losing two early wickets for just 19 runs. Mandhana highlighted this recovery as the biggest positive from the match.

The strong total was primarily built on brilliant centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur (126 runs off 121 balls, 15 fours) and Deepti Sharma (unbeaten 106 runs off 86 balls, 15 fours), who stitched together a crucial 153-run partnership for the fifth wicket. In response, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 207 runs in 48.5 overs, despite resilient contributions from Modester Mupachikwa (49), Chipo Mugeri-Tripano (46), and Beloved Biza (34).

India's bowling attack was led by Vaishnavi Sharma, playing her second ODI, who claimed four wickets for 39 runs, while off-spinner Deepti Sharma added three wickets for 32 runs to her impressive all-round performance. Mandhana praised Deepti's batting, recalling her match-winning innings in the Women's ODI World Cup, and commended Vaishnavi's intelligent bowling, particularly her variations in pace and angle.

Regarding the strategy of using shorter bowling spells, Mandhana explained that in limited-overs cricket, even a four or five-over spell can be considered long. The aim is to prevent batters from getting accustomed to a bowler's rhythm. Harmanpreet Kaur, who was named Player of the Match, expressed her desire to simply enjoy her batting, reflecting on her impressive knock and the discussions with Pratika Rawal about respecting good deliveries and capitalizing on loose ones. Despite feeling unwell the previous night, Harmanpreet showcased her dedication and resilience on the field.

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