Centuries by Pratik Rawal, Shree Charani, India’s four-wicket, nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first WODI

Pratika Rawal. (Photo/BCCI) Pratika Rawal scored her third ODI century while Shree Charani claimed career-best figures of 4/23 as India beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the opening match of the three-ODI series in Vadodara on Friday.Zimbabwe were bowled out for 197 despite a half-century from Beloved Biza, with Charani and Kranti Gaud (3/42) leading the Indian bowling effort. Pratika then led the chase with an unbeaten 100 as India reached 200/1 in 27.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.Pratika hit 15 fours in her 100 not out to reach over 100. The right-hander relied on ground strokes and did not take any unnecessary risks while batting on a pitch that did little to help the bowlers.Opening partner Pratika Mandhana scored 32 before being caught by Biza at long-on off Olinder Chare in the 16th over, ending the 94-run opening partnership.Shafali, who came in to bat at No. 3, continued her attacking approach and remained unbeaten on 64 off 33 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.Earlier, Charani helped restrict Zimbabwe to 197 on a batting-friendly pitch in Kotambi. He dismissed left-arm starters Modester Mupachikwa, who scored 25, and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (21) before coming back to remove Nyasha Gwanzura (13) and Michelle Mavungu (29).Kranti Gaud supported Charani with three wickets for 42 runs as India prevented Zimbabwe from building substantial partnerships. Biza was the visitors’ top scorer as he made 62 off 92 balls with five fours. She held one end together during the shift.However, India’s bowling efforts were marred by several fielding errors, including dropped catches.In the third over, Mugeri-Tiripano edged a delivery from Gauda trying to drive it outside the off-stump, but keeper Richa Ghosh failed to catch.Mupachikwa offered another chance in the eighth over when she tried to pull a wide delivery from Gaud and headed Deepti Sharma at second slip. The Indian vice-captain tried to catch with an inverted cup but the ball slipped out of her hands.Mavunga also benefited from the dropped catcher while scoring quick runs. In the 40th over, Gaud failed to keep a difficult chance at deep midwicket off Deepti’s bowling.