NEW DELHI: India clinched the three-match Girls’s ODI collection towards New Zealand with a snug six-wicket victory within the deciding match on Tuesday.
The spotlight of the match was a masterful century by star batter Smriti Mandhana, who anchored India’s chase of 233 with an unbeaten 100 runs off 122 balls.
Mandhana’s innings was a return to type for the proficient batter, who had struggled to make an impression within the earlier two ODIs and the previous T20 World Cup.
Her affected person but dominant knock, studded with 10 boundaries, laid the inspiration for India’s profitable run chase.
After a shaky begin that noticed India lose Shafali Verma early, Mandhana discovered a keen companion in Yastika Bhatia. The duo stitched collectively a vital 76-run partnership for the second wicket, steadying the Indian innings.
Bhatia performed the right foil to Mandhana, scoring a brisk 35 runs earlier than falling to a return catch.
Mandhana’s partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur proved decisive, successfully sealing the match for India.
Their 118-run stand for the third wicket deflated the New Zealand bowling assault, with Kaur enjoying a supporting position with an unbeaten 59.
By the point Mandhana departed within the forty first over, India have been inside touching distance of victory.
Earlier within the day, New Zealand recovered from a precarious 88/5 to publish a good complete of 232/5, due to a preventing knock of 86 runs from Brooke Halliday.
The Indian bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma and Priya Mishra, had initially dominated the proceedings, decreasing New Zealand to a average complete.
Regardless of the late fightback from New Zealand, Mandhana’s century proved to be the distinction between the 2 sides.
