IND-W vs NZ-W Highlights: World Champs Dance On Thakor, Radha’s Tune To Collapse 168/10
India Women win first ODI against New Zealand by 59 runs (source @bcci)
In a commendable effort with the ball, India Women bowled out New Zealand Women for 168 in the 228-run chase to clinch the first ODI held at Ahmedabad. Debutant Saima Thakor got crucial breakthroughs of Bates and Halliday before Radha Yadav wiped off the tail to lead India to a dominant victory. With that, the women in blue secured a 1-0 early lead in the three-game ODI series.
Here’s the timeline of how IND-W vs NZW panned out in Ahmedabad:
IND-W vs NZ-W Highlights: Tejal shines on debut after Smriti disappoints
In the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana led the side and opted to bat first after winning the toss. However, India’s start was far from ideal. Mandhana departed on just 5 from 7 balls before Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, and Jemimah Rodrigues wasted good starts to leave India reeling on 91/4.
Surprisingly, debutant Tejal Hasabnis showed courage to partner up with veteran Deepti Sharma and lift the team to 152/5 with a 61-run partnership. Both the batters unfortunately missed out on a half-century as Tejal was dismissed on 42 off 64, whereas Deepti was cleaned up by Jess Kaur on 41 off 51 balls. Given the duo’s resistance, India Women finished with a fightable total of 227/10.
IND-W Vs NZ-W Highlights: Kiwis jolted with Sophie Devine’s run-out
New Zealand was also struck early when Saima Thakor’s outswinger forced an outside edge from Suzie Bates caught by keeper Bhatia. However, Georgia Plimmer and Lauren Down added 33 runs together for the second wicket before Georgia departed. But it was skipper Sophie Devine’s wicket that put the Kiwis on the back foot.
Devine stepped out against Deepti Sharma but was careless and busy staring at the bowler rather than walking back to the crease. Meanwhile, Deepti spotted the foot outside the line, and her sharp throw at Yastika caught Devine short of her crease, resulting in an unfortunate run-out. In a matter of a few minutes, New Zealand was reduced to 79/4, with the chase hanging in the balance.
IND-W vs NZ-W Highlights: Debutant Thakor blows away New Zealand to force collapse
Saima Thakor was electric on her debut. She got a crucial breakthrough after Halliday miscued her punch to play straight into Thakor’s hands, leading to a soft dismissal. A run out of Maddy Green in the same over pushed the Kiwis on the back foot. Jess Kerr, meanwhile, panicked and mistimed a slog attempt at Radha Yadav’s tossed-up delivery that pitched outside off to hole out to Thakor at a backward point. With that, New Zealand were down to 132/7 by 30.4 overs.
IND-W vs NZ-W Highlights: Radha Yadav’s final punch steers India-W to 59-run victory
Even Amelia Kerr couldn’t rescue New Zealand as she was left stranded on one end, watching her teammates fall one by one. Radha Yadav grabbed her third wicket of the night by cleaning up Molly Penfold before Eden Carson threw it away in a suicidal running attempt. Carson responded late to Amelia’s call and found herself well short of the crease when Radha dislodged the bails in a messy effort. The Kiwis got bowled out for 168, leading to India Women’s mega 59-run victory.