New Zealand have faced yet another victory over Team India in the rain-affected fourth ODI. India won the toss and was elected to field first.
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New Zealand have faced yet another victory over Team India in the rain-affected fourth ODI. India won the toss and elected to field first but they failed to restrict New Zealand within a below-par total as they managed to post 191 after 20 overs. For India, Richa Ghosh made headlines with her fastest ODI fifty.
For New Zealand, both the openers Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine led the foundation with 53 runs that too within 6 overs. Later, Amy Satterthwaite and Amelia Kerr did exceptionally well where the latter smashed a blitzy 68* off 33 with 11 fours and a six. Their quickfire knocks helped them post a huge total as well.
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While chasing, India openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who came back into the squad in today’s game, were seen struggling. While Verma got out on a duck, Yastika Bhatia followed her. And, Mandhana too was dismissed for 13, leaving India struggling at 19 for 4 within 5 overs. However, Richa Ghosh came in and started to take on the opponents as well.
She, along with captain Mithali Raj added 77 runs. Ghosh hit 4 boundaries and 4 sixes and eventually scored the fastest ODI half-century which came in just 26 balls. But she could only manage 52 runs as Amelia Kerr dismissed her.
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After the win, Sophie Devine said: “It was another complete performance from us. With the bat, we showed real intent. Good experience (shortened game) with the World Cup coming up. It was a great opportunity for us. The batters played to their strengths. 191 was probably above-par. The fielding is an area where we’ve missed a few, that’s an area where we can probably save another 10-15 runs. With the bowling, at times, we have been slow to change our plans. We have to adapt quicker. I had belief in this group forever, nice to see people are seeing that. We are seeing the results now, there’s real confidence and belief. It’s perfect timing with the World Cup just around the corner.”
After the loss, Mithali Raj said: “We have definitely been trying few compositions with our spin and seam attack. But to be honest the bowling is a bit of a concern before the World Cup. We want all our main bowlers to get their rhythm. We are adapting to the conditions but there are spells where the bowlers have bowled well but we are not consistent and it is something that we are looking to improve. I was just looking at the shots and the way she (Richa) went about her batting, she is very talented and the future for India.”
