Bengaluru: New Zealand women bounced back to level the five-match series 1-all with a three-wicket win over India in their second ODI encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The victory was set up by an impressive show by their middle order batswomen, a drastic upturn from their last encounter.
Opting to bat, Smriti Mandhana (12) and Thirush Kamini (61) gave the hosts a good start with a 33-run opening partnership before the former was removed by Leigh Kasperek. The runs kept trickling in for the hosts as Kamini built useful partnerships with Mithali Raj (13) and Poonam Raut (8) as she eased to a 71-ball 50 before succumbing to cramps and going off the field.
Harmanpreet Kaur (31) took over from the opener as she held up one end while Shikha Pandey was caught at short cover off Kasperek and Joshna Goswami was trapped leg before by Lea Tahuhu forcing Kamini to return. But she soon fell and her innings, which contained 11 shots to the ropes and one over it, come to an end when she edged Suzie Bates’ to wicketkeeper Rachel Priest as India slumped to 131/7.
Kaur and Ekta Bisht (18 n.o) kept the fight going pushing India up to 163. Bates was the star on the field for New Zealand as she picked up three wickets. But the White Ferns’ skipper failed to contribute with the bat as Goswami sent back early in the game. Priest (21) and Amy Satterwaite (23) added 39 for the second wicket to steady the ship.
But the home side came right back as Gayakwad took two wickets in two balls to rattle the visitors. The White Ferns, however, marched on unperturbed with Devine (33), who was dropped by Pandey at 21, and Perkins (30) holding the fort with a 49-run fourth wicket partnership before both were sent back to the pavilion by Bisht. Kate Broadmore soon followed suit with Goswami rattling her stumps with the Kiwis perched precariously at 132/7.
With India seemingly holding the upper-hand, Anna Peterson took the game away with two fours and a six off Rana in the 42nd over as she and Kasperek guided New Zealand to their first win of the series.
Brief scores
India 163 in 49.3 overs (T. Kamini 61, H. Kaur 31, S. Bates 3-21, L. Tahuhu 2-29, L. Kasperek 2-22) lost to New Zealand 164/7 in 44.2 overs (R. Priest 21, A. Satterthwaite 23, S. Devine 33, K. Perkins 30, A. Peterson 23*, J. Goswami 2/14, E. Bisht 2/28, R. Gayakwad 2/33).
