New Zealand Women secured a 63-run win in a rain-affected fourth ODI as they kept Mithali Raj’s India cricket team winless on the tour.
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Amelia Kerr has emerged as a nightmare for Mithali Raj’s India women’s cricket team in the current series against New Zealand. Her all-round skills in the 2nd ODI, which included a hundred, gave New Zealand a thrilling win in the company of her sister Jess Kerr. In the fourth ODI, she was at it again. In a match reduced to 20 overs due to rain, Amelia Kerr smashed a magnificent 68 off 33 balls. She then took three wickets as New Zealand continued to prolong India’s misery in the ongoing ODI series. The White Ferns registered a comfortable 63-run win against India to go 4-0 up in the series.
After rain swept the John Davies Oval in Queenstown for four hours, the match was reduced to 20-overs per side. India chose to field and they made six changes, with Smriti Mandhana coming back in place of the in-form Sabbhiheni Meghana. Harmanpreet Kaur was left out while Jhulan Goswami was also rested. For New Zealand, Brook Halliday was left out as she was in isolation following a coronavirus scare.
New Zealand made a fast start with Sophie Devine smashing two fours off Meghana Singh in the first over. Devine continued the onslaught against Meghana Singh, smashing her for three fours in one over.
Read – Mithali Raj – The ultimate genius who has redefined India women’s cricket
Suzie Bates joined in the fun as she hit two fours off Renuka Singh. But, the bowler got the big wicket of Devine for 32. That did not stop the momentum for New Zealand. Bates hit three fours off Pooja Vastrakar and she benefited from a dropped catch by Mandhana on 33.
But, just as Bates was nearing her fifty, she was stumped off the bowling of Rajeshwari Gayakwad for 41. Then, Amelia Kerr and Amy Satterthwaite showed their class. Kerr whacked two consecutive fours off Sneh Rana. Satterthwaite showed her intent with two sixes and a four off Deepti Sharma as New Zealand neared 150. Satterthwaite’s aggressive cameo ended when she was bowled for 32 of Meghana Singh.
Kerr then showed her class by hammering boundaries at will. After reaching her fifty, she blasted a six and four off in the final over as New Zealand ended on 191/5 in 20 overs.
India, in response, started in a disastrous fashion. Frances Mackay got the massive wicket of Shafali Verma for 0. Yastika Bhatia was bowled by Jess Kerr. Hayley Jensen then sent back Vastrakar for 4. When Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for 13 by Jensen, India’s hopes evaporated.
Richa Ghosh kept India in the hunt with two fours off Rosemary Mair. Mithali Raj, on the other hand, showed that she could also play with power. Ghosh smashed Mackay for a six and she followed it up with a six off Kerr. The Bengal batter continued to hit sixes at will, hitting Rosemary Mair for another six. She neared her fifty with her fourth six and she notched up her fifty off 26 balls, which is the fastest by an Indian. However, when Jensen sent back Ghosh for 52, India’s hopes ended.
Mithali looked good with a six off Jensen but when she fell to Kerr, the end was near. Fittingly, it was Amelia Kerr who finished the match off by taking three wickets in one over as New Zealand prolonged India’s agony in the ongoing series.
