SportsPosted at: Oct 18 2026 9:46PM


Shafali sets calendar-year record as India crush Zimbabwe by nine wickets

Raipur, Oct 18 (UNI) India Women registered a dominant nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe Women in the second T20 International, chasing down a target of 103 in just 8.5 overs at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium here on Sunday.
Shafali Verma smashed a 25-ball 55 and skipper Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 47 off 25 deliveries as India reached 104 for one, completing the chase with 67 balls to spare.
The victory set a new record for the most balls remaining in a successful chase of a target of 100 or more in women's T20 Internationals. India's 67 balls to spare surpassed the previous mark of 65, achieved by West Indies against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2026.
Shafali's explosive innings also took her tally to nine scores of 50 or more in women's T20 Internationals in 2026, the most by any player in a calendar year. She surpassed Mandhana's previous record of eight, recorded in 2024.
Shafali also became the leading run-scorer in women's T20Is in the calendar year, taking her tally to 922 runs in 2026. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt follows with 824 runs, while Mandhana has accumulated 821 runs this year.
Earlier, Zimbabwe managed 102 for eight in their allotted 20 overs after India's bowlers restricted the visitors to a run rate of 5.10.
Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano top-scored with 34 off 32 balls, hitting five fours, while captain Josephine Nkomo remained unbeaten on 27 off 35 deliveries, including two boundaries.
The pair attempted to stabilise the innings, but Zimbabwe struggled to build momentum against India's disciplined bowling attack. Beloved Biza scored seven, while Sharne Mayers made nine. Modester Mupachikwa contributed nine before being run out.
India's Niki Prasad was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets for just seven runs in her two overs. Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma, Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani took one wicket each.
Zimbabwe lost Kelis Ndhlovu for a duck in the fourth over and Biza in the seventh, slipping to 20 for two. Mayers' dismissal at 30 for three further increased the pressure on the visitors.
Mugeri-Tiripano and Nkomo attempted to rebuild the innings, but the former fell in the 15th over with the score at 75. Zimbabwe subsequently lost wickets at regular intervals and managed only 27 runs in the final five overs.
India's reply was aggressive from the outset, with Shafali and Mandhana racing to 76 without loss in the mandatory powerplay.
Shafali struck six fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 220.00, while Mandhana hit six fours and two sixes in her unbeaten knock.
The opening partnership yielded 96 runs off just 47 balls before Shafali was caught by Tendai Makusha off Beloved Biza for 55 in the eighth over.
Mandhana continued the assault, with Anushka Sharma unbeaten on one as India completed the chase in 8.5 overs.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Shafali sets calendar-year record as India crush Zimbabwe by nine wickets
More News

JioHotstar to live stream Chhattisgarh Hockey League

18 Oct 2026 | 9:48 PM

Raipur, Oct 18 (UNI) JioHotstar, the official streaming partner of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League, will livestream all matches of the tournament, bringing world-class hockey to viewers across the country and beyond.

see more..

Shafali sets calendar-year record as India crush Zimbabwe by nine wickets

18 Oct 2026 | 9:46 PM

Raipur, Oct 18 (UNI) India Women registered a dominant nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe Women in the second T20 International, chasing down a target of 103 in just 8.5 overs at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium here on Sunday.

see more..

Meghalaya to host NE Karate Championship

18 Oct 2026 | 9:02 PM

Shillong, Oct 18 (UNI) The 5th Karate India Organisation (KIO) North East Zone Karate Championship will be the first mega karate event in Meghalaya in the last 30 years and the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association (AMKA) is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the three-day event is held successfully.

see more..

Chacarra battles broken toe, late Hillier charge to clinch third DP World Tour title

18 Oct 2026 | 8:55 PM

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra battled a broken toe and a late challenge from New Zealand's Daniel Hillier to clinch the DP World India Championship here on Sunday, securing his third title of the 2026 DP World Tour season and moving to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings.

see more..

Talwar clinches PGTI crown, earns 2027 Tour card

18 Oct 2026 | 8:49 PM

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Saptak Talwar’s consistent run through the 2026 season culminated in the biggest breakthrough of his career as the 27-year-old emerged as the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Order of Merit champion, earning a coveted card for the 2027 DP World Tour season.

see more..