The third ODI of the five-match series between India and New Zealand, which the latter lead by 3-0, was played on February 18 at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown.
Toss
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Playing XI
India: Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Sabbhineni Meghana, Jhulan Goswami, Renuka Singh Thakur, Sneh Rana, Ekta Bisht
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Lauren Down, Katey Martin, Amy Satterthwaite, Hannah Rowe, Frankie Mackay, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair
First innings: India 279 all out in 49.3 overs
Batting first, India got off to a flyer, thanks to the opening pair of Sabbhineni Meghana and Shafali Verma, who put together 100 runs in just 13 overs. While Meghana scored 61 runs off 41 balls, registering her maiden ODI half-century, Verma scored her second ODI half-century, muscling 51 runs off 57 balls. Both these batters got one lifeline each as they were dropped by Hannah Rowe and Katey Martin respectively. After laying a solid foundation, both the batters departed in the space of six overs, with India slightly struggling at 131-2 in 19.1 overs. Yastika Bhatia and Mithali Raj, who have had a good series so far, failed to score big, while Harmanpreet Kaur continued with her torrid international form. Sneh Rana, who was not a part of the first two ODIs got the chance in today’s match, however could not contribute much with the bat. India lost four wickets for 80 runs as the New Zealanders exposed India’s lower middle order earlier than expected. Deepti Sharma however held the Indian innings together and crafted an unbeaten run-a-ball 69 to take India to 279. For New Zealand, the pace twins of Hannah Rowe and Rosemary Mair picked up two wickets apiece. The New Zealand bowlers did a good job of pulling back things after India started the proceedings on a high. They picked up the last eight wickets giving away 148 runs.
Second innings: New Zealand 280-7 in 49.1 overs
Jhulan Goswami started the proceedings for India with the ball and she sent both the openers, Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates back to the pavilion in her two consecutive overs. New Zealand were struggling at 14-2 in 2.3 overs, before Amelia Kerr and Amy Satterthwaite stitched a 103-run partnership for the third wicket to calm things down in the White Ferns’ change room. Satterthwaite was dropped twice, by Deepti Sharma on 0 and Sabbhineni Meghana on 19. The southpaw made the Indians pay a heavy price as she plundered 59 runs off 76 balls. Kerr picked up from where she had left in the second ODI and raced to her third ODI half-century. She top scored for New Zealand with 67 runs off 80 balls, including eight boundaries. After Kerr and Satterthwaite departed, Lauren Down put her hand up to take the responsibility of the run chase. She was dropped on 10 by Sneh Rana and from there she went on to score big. She mustered an unbeaten 64 off 52 balls to see her team home and successfully chase down the second highest total in the history of women’s ODIs. For India, Jhulan Goswami was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 3-47 in her 10 overs, including two maiden overs. Renuka Singh, playing her first ODI, picked up one wicket, so did the spin trio of Ekta Bisht, Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana.
3-0 WIN!
New Zealand completes a Record Run-Chase. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/fbIiJjnpQR
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 18, 2022
Player of the Match
New Zealand’s Lauren Down won the player of the match for her match-winning batting performance. The right handed batter scored 64 not out off 52 balls. She stitched a 76-run partnership with Katey Martin to see the White Ferns home.
Brief Scores
India 279 all out in 49.3 overs (D Sharma 69 not out; R Mair 2-43) lost to New Zealand 280-7 in 49.1 overs (A Kerr 67; J Goswami 3-47) by 3 wickets
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
