Skipper Mithali Raj’s 61st ODI fifty went in vain as hosts New Zealand women defeated India women team by three-wickets to go 2-0 up.
In the series in Queenstown on Tuesday (February 15). Chasing 271 to win, the White Ferns reached home with one over to spare as Amelia Kerr score a brilliant unbeaten 119 off 135 balls.
After losing the opening ODI, India posted an impressive 270/6 batting first with half-centuries by skipper Mithali (66 n.o., 81 balls, 3×4) and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh’s brilliant 65 off 64 balls with one six and six fours. Opener Sabbhineni Meghana also chipped in with 50-ball 49 studded with 7 boundaries.
India managed to reduce the hosts to 55/3 in their chase but Amelia Kerr’s fantastic century guided the team to victory. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for India, snaring 4 wickets while giving away 52 runs. New Zealand lead the five-match series 2-0.
Brief Scores: India women 270/6 (Mithali Raj 66 n.o., Richa Ghosh 65; Sophie Devine 2/42) lost to New Zealand women 273/7 in 49 overs (Amelia Kerr 119 n.o., Maddy Green 52; Deepti Sharma 4/52)