JOIN USKiwis soar to 6-wkt win
Helped by a 125-run first wicket partnership between skipper Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest, New Zealand women posted a thumping six-wicket victory over India in the third one-day international here to strengthen their hopes of a direct qualification to the 2017 World Cup.
At the Chinnaswamy stadium here on Friday, a fluent half century from Veda Krishnamurthy helped India post 182 for nine in their 50 overs, their highest total in the series so far, after captain Mithali Raj opted to bat for the third straight time.
In response, openers Bates (59) and Priest (64) notched up fine half centuries as the White Ferns chased down the target in 45.4 overs to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
With the win, New Zealand jumped to fifth spot with eight points in the ICC Women’s Championship while India remained rooted at the bottom. Points for the championship were alloted only for the first three matches of the series, with the window for direct qualification open till 2016. Top four teams automatically qualify for the World Cup.
Indian batswomen struggled once again and had to rely heavily on individual brilliance to make a decent total. This time it was Veda, returning to the side after being left out in the second ODI, who showed the required grit and intent with a composed performance to score 63. The 22-year-old local girl scripted a well paced knock laced with six fours and forged an important 71-run alliance with Deepti Sharma (22), after the top-order failed to provide a good start.
The Indian openers continued to misfire, as Smriti Mandhana (8) and Thirush Kamini were dismissed within the first eight overs to leave the team struggling at 29 for two. The experienced pair of Mithali and Harmanpreet regrouped with some sensible batting to help India reach 50 in 18 overs. Just when the duo looked set to take India to a strong score, the visitors bagged two quick wickets to put the match in balance.
An bad mix-up led to the run-out of Harmanpreet in the 22nd over and Mithali soon followed when she was caught behind off Sophie Devine for 30. The medium-pacer returned with impressive figures of three for 40 from her quota of ten overs.
New Zealand began their chase aggressively, punishing the Indian bowlers. Bates got a reprieve when she was caught at slip off a Jhulan Goswami no-ball when her score was one.
Scoring at four runs per over, Bates’ slammed seven fours in her knock while Priest smashed one maximum and seven fours as the Indian bowlers, who were impressive in the first two games, had a miserable day at the office.
Score board
INDIA: Smriti Mandhana c Perkins b Devine 8, MD Thirush Kamini c Satterthwaite b Devine 4, Mithali Raj c Priest b 30, Harmanpreet Kaur (run out) 11, Veda Krishnamurthy (run out) 63, Deepti Sharma c Bates b Kasperek 22, Ekta Bisht c Tahuhu b Guy 1, Jhulan Goswami c Peterson b Bates 8, Niranjana Nagarajan (run out) 10, Kalpana Ravi (not out) 0, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (not out) 1, Extras (LB-9, W-15) 24, Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 182.
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-29, 3-57, 4-78, 5-149, 6-151, 7-162, 8-180, 9-181
Bowling: Lea Tahuhu 8-1-31-0, Sophie Devine 10-2-40-3, Morna Nielson 10-3-27-0, Suzie Bates 6-0-20-1, Leigh Kasperek 10-2-29-1, Georgia Guy 6-0-26-1.
NEW ZEALAND: Suzie Bates b Goswami 59, Rachel Priest lbw Kaur 64, Amy Satterthwaite (not out) 22, Maddie Green st Kalpana b Bisht 14, Sophie Devine lbw Deepti 17, Katie Perkins (not out) 4, Extras (LB-1, WB-3, NB-2) 6, Total (for 4 wkts, in 45.4 overs) 186.
Fall of wickets: 1-125, 2-125, 3-147, 4-182.
Bowling: Goswami 10-2-28-1, Ekta Bisht 8-0-36-1, Niranjana Nagarajan 7-0-29-0, Deepti 7.4-0-38-1, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 8-1-30-0 , Kaur 4-1-14-1, Veda Krishnamurthy 1-0-10-0.