Vadodara, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India pacer Sayali Satghare praised the team’s collective bowling effort after India bowled out Zimbabwe for 131 in the third and final ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Wednesday. She also lauded left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma for claiming her maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket.
Vaishnavi finished with figures of 5/39, while Sayali and Kranti Gaud claimed two wickets apiece as India dismissed Zimbabwe in 39.5 overs after the visitors elected to bat first.
“I think the energy was really good. Vaishnavi bowled really well to get five wickets. The wicket was on the slower side, and she got a bit of turn. Happy to knock them over on that total,” Sayali said after the innings.
The right-arm pacer, who returned figures of 2/11, said her rhythm had improved compared with the first two matches of the series. She added that regular bowling helps her develop consistency.
“Yes, today I felt my rhythm was much better than the previous two games. I’m the kind of bowler who if I bowl more, I’ll get better,” she said.
India made an early breakthrough through Sayali, who dismissed Loryn Phiri for a six-ball duck in the second over. Kranti struck in the following over, removing Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and putting Zimbabwe under immediate pressure.
Beloved Biza was dismissed for one off 16 deliveries as India continued to restrict the visitors. Modester Mupachikwa, who top-scored with 37, and captain Josephine Nkomo, who contributed 35, offered some resistance but failed to build a substantial partnership that could revive the innings.
Vaishnavi made the most of the slower surface, extracting turn to dismantle Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order and complete her maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket. Sayali and Kranti supported her with disciplined spells as India restricted the visitors to a modest total.
Reflecting on her approach against the lower order, Sayali said she had stuck to a straightforward plan rather than making significant changes to her bowling.
“Not really. My plan was simple. Just stick to the stump line. Even the old ball, I was trying to do the same,” she said.
The pacer also pointed to the difference in pitch conditions compared with the first two matches, explaining that Wednesday’s surface offered more assistance to the spinners.
“I think today, it was on the slower side. So the spinners were getting turn. In the first two games, there wasn’t much turn. Today, the spinners were getting turn,” Sayali said.
India’s seamers also varied their lengths during the opening overs, mixing short-pitched deliveries with fuller balls to prevent Zimbabwe’s batters from settling into a rhythm.
Explaining the strategy, Sayali said, “I mean you can’t let the batter settle on one particular length. So you have to keep changing the length.”
She also praised wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia for taking a sharp catch down the leg side, noting that such moments can prove decisive during a bowling spell.
“Yeah, she took a really good catch. It was kind of that day. Sometimes, on a good ball, you don’t get a wicket, and sometimes, on the leg-side ball, you get a wicket,” she added.
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