Mount Maunganui: Opener Smriti Mandhana (90 n o, 83b, 13×4, 1×6) led the chase for India with familiar panache after a feisty bowling performance from the Indian eves that steered the side to a series-clinching eight-wicket triumph over New Zealand in the second ODI here, Tuesday.
Opting to field, India produced an excellent effort to bowl out New Zealand for a paltry 161 in 44.2 overs before player of the match Mandhana and skipper Mithali Raj (63 n o, 111b, 4×4, 2×6) put on an unbeaten 151-run third-wicket stand to guide the team to an easy win. The duo resurrected the Indian run chase from 15 for two after the early loss of opener Jemimah Rodrigues (0) and Deepti Sharma (8).
“It feels great but I think our bowlers deserved the player of the match award more than me. I will give it away to our bowlers, they did a great job to restrict New Zealand on a good wicket,” Mandhana said in the post-match presentation.
The 22-year-old Mandhana has been in excellent form in recent times and Tuesday’s half century was her eighth in the last 10 ODI innings. She hit 105 in the first match of the ongoing series.
Raj meanwhile completed the run chase in style with a six as India reached to 166 for two in 35.2 overs.
“I am happy with the way the team is shaping up. I have always enjoyed batting in challenging conditions. It wasn’t easy, it required patience here,” stated Raj.
Just like the first match, India opted to field and shot New Zealand out for a paltry 161 with senior pacer Jhulan Goswami (3/23) hogging the limelight.
The spin trio of Ekta Bisht (2/14), Poonam Yadav (2/38) and Deepti Sharma (2/51) then sent the hosts packing.
New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite (71, 87b, 9×4) top-scored for her side. But she got little support from her other teammates.
Brief scores: New Zealand 161 in 44.2 overs (Amy Satterthwaite 71, Jhulan Goswami 3/23, Ekta Bisht 2/14, Poonam Yadav 2/38) lost to India 166 for 2 in 35.2 overs (Smriti Mandhana 90 n o, Mithali Raj 63 n o) by eight wickets.
PTI