In the second Twenty20 International of the ongoing New Zealand Women vs India Women 2019 three-match series, the White Ferns took an unassailable lead of 2-0 while sealing the penultimate T20 by four wickets in Auckland.
In what could be termed as the cliffhanger, Leigh Kasperek 4 (5) and Hannah Rowe 4 (3) saw hosts home on the final ball of the 20th over.
For the visiting side, Arundhati Reddy was the pick of the bowlers for India while bagging two wickets after giving away 22 runs in four overs. Radha also claimed two scalps for 23 runs in four overs. Manshi Joshi and Poonam Yadav settled with a wicket each.
While chasing down the target of 136, the White Ferns had a decent start as Sophie Devine, and Suzie Bates raced the hosts to 33 in 4.4 overs. But the left-arm orthodox spinner Radha Yadav dropped the first blood when she cleaned up Devine on 19 off 16 deliveries. Radha further went on to dismiss Caitlin Gurrey, who faced 11 deliveries for four runs.
However, Bates continued to dominate who emerged as the top scorer with 62 off 53 balls.
Batting first, India women post 135 for the loss of six wickets.
New Zealand women’s team skipper Amy Satterthwaite used six bowling options. The 20-year-old right-arm medium pacer Rosemary Mair was the pick of the bowlers by bagging two wickets. She conceded 17 runs in her quota of four overs. So much so, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine claimed wicket apiece.
Interestingly, Anna Peterson and Lea Tahuhu went wicketless. They sent down seven overs to give away 50 runs.
This is how India’s innings unfolded…
The visitors led by Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t have a good start, as opening batter Priya Punia was dismissed on four after facing ten deliveries.
However, for the second wicket, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues put up 63 runs on the board. There on, Indian Eves kept on losing the wickets, but Rodgrigues played a crucial role at the one end. The promising batswoman smashed 53-ball 72. Her innings was laced with six fours and a six.
Besides, Mandhana managed to score 36 off 27 balls. She attributed it with three fours and a maximum.
Moreover, Harmanpreet could score run-a-ball five. Unfortunately, Dayalan Hemalatha returned to the pavilion as retired hurt after scoring two off five deliveries.
Katey Martin has affected the run out of Deepti Sharma, who could score six off eight balls.
Down the order, things didn’t look good for India women’s team as White Ferns stemmed the run flow by bowling brilliantly at the fag end of innings.
Arundhati Reddy faced six deliveries for three runs, as Radha Yadav and Mansi Joshi remained not out owing to the completion of 20 allotted overs.
New Zealand women lead the series 2-0 and the third and final T20 is scheduled at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday (February 10).
New Zealand women vs India women 2019 – Brief Score:
Suzi Bates 62 (52), Satterthwaite 23 (20) – Arundhati Reddy 2 for 22, Radha Yadav 2 for 2
Jemimah Rodrigues 72 (53), Smriti Mandhana 36 (27) – Rosemary Mair 2 for 17