Buoyed by a century from Smriti Mandhana and a brilliantly struck 59 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India Women’s Team defeated their New Zealand counterparts by 6 wickets in the 3rd and final ODI match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The series was tied 1-1 before an inspired team performance from the Harmanpreet Kaur-led outfit outplayed the Kiwis. India chased down the victory target of 233 in 44.2 overs. Smriti Mandhana bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award for her splendid hundred that set the tone for India’s easy chase. While Deepti Sharma scalped three wickets in the final ODI to go with her another three wickets in the first and second ODI together. She also scored a useful 41 in the first ODI which India won by 59 runs. She bagged the ‘Player of the Series’ award in India vs New Zealand Women’s ODI Series 2024.
Kiwis Lose Half Their Side Inside 25 Overs of Their Batting in India vs New Zealand Women’s ODI Series 2024
New Zealand Women’s Team Captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bat first in the 3rd ODI at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. However, the decision to bat first backfired as Suzie Bates and Lauren Down were out in the space of just one run. It was 25 for 2 in 7.1 overs for New Zealand. While Suzie Bates was out run out for 5, Lauren Down gave a simple catch to Yastika Bhatia off Saima Thakor for 1. Soon Sophie Devine departed as Priya Mishra bowled her for just 9.
Georgia Plimmer and Brooke Halliday then steadied New Zealand’s ship for a while with ones and twos and boundaries in between. However, the partnership could last for only 30 runs as Priya Mishra had Plimmer caught by Deepti Sharma. She scored a useful 39 off 67 balls, hitting six boundaries. Maddy Green, who came in next, could score just 15 runs in her 22-run partnership with Halliday. Kiwis were struggling at 88 for 5 in 18.5 overs in India vs New Zealand Women’s ODI Series 2024.
The 64-run Partnership Between Halliday and Gaze Revives New Zealand
Brooke Halliday then started getting New Zealand further in the company of the wicketkeeper batter Isabella Gaze. Together they put New Zealand back on track by scoring runs, maybe at a slow pace. The 64-run partnership came in almost 20 overs before Deepti Sharma taking a catch off Isabella off her own bowling to keep New Zealand to 152 for 6 in 38.4 overs. Halliday then cut loose by helping New Zealand 47 off the next 40 balls before being dismissed by Deepti Sharma for a brilliant 86 off 96, smashing nine boundaries and three sixes. New Zealand were 199 for 7 in 45.3 overs at the dismissal of Halliday. India wrapped up the Kiwis for 232 in 49.5 overs.
NZ Strike Early, But India Cruise in the Company of Smriti and Yastika
Shafali Verma started on a good note by striking two early boundaries before Hannah Rowe had her caught by Isabella Gaze behind the wicket. India were 16 for 1 before Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia combined to stitch a useful partnership of 76 runs. They looked at consummate ease while facing the Kiwi bowlers in the last game of the India vs New Zealand Women’s Team ODI Series 2024. Yastika Bhatia departed on the bowling of Sophie Devine who took a catch on her own bowling to get rid of India’s number 3. India reached 92 for 2 in 21 overs when Yastika made way to the pavillion.
Smriti, Harmanpreet Put on 117 Runs for the Third Wicket in India vs New Zealand Women’s ODI Series 2024
It was the turn of the captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana to steer India along to the victory target. The duo found comfort while scoring runs at a brisk pace in their 117-run partnership that took 19.1 overs. Both Smriti and Harmanpreet put away bad deliveries to the fence to crush whatever hopes New Zealand may have pinned on after scalping Yastika Bhatia. Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana scored a hundred before being bowled by Hannah Rowe. She scored 100 off 122 balls, smacking 10 boundaries.
Jemimah Rodrigues came and put on a whirlwind of strokes to put on 22 off 18 balls, smashing four boundaries before being trapped leg before wicket by Fran Jonas. However, Harmanpreet stayed calm and composed with her 59 off 63 balls to take the team home in the 3rd match of the India vs New Zealand Women’s ODI Series 2024.
For more sports updates, follow zarooribaathai.in.
