India wrapped up a successful ODI series against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, securing a 2-1 victory with an outstanding chase led by Smriti Mandhana’s century and Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 59. India’s bowlers, particularly Deepti Sharma, set the stage by restricting New Zealand to a manageable 232 runs in their innings, which India chased down comfortably with six wickets in hand and 34 balls remaining.
Score Summary:
- India: 236/4 (Mandhana 100, Harmanpreet 59*, Rowe 2-47)
- New Zealand: 232 (Halliday 86, Plimmer 39, Deepti 3-39, Mishra 2-41)
This match marked a high point for India’s top order, which delivered a disciplined chase after setbacks in the first two games of the series. Smriti Mandhana, after scoring just 5 and 0 in her earlier innings, regained form to register her third ODI century of the year, playing a pivotal role in the chase alongside Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a composed 59 not out.
New Zealand’s Innings and Halliday’s Standout Knock
Opting to bat first, New Zealand leaned heavily on Brooke Halliday’s career-best 86 off 96 balls to recover from early struggles. New Zealand was in trouble at 88/5 in the 24th over, with the Indian bowlers dictating the pace, but Halliday’s resilience helped stabilize the innings. She built critical partnerships, especially with Izabella Gaze and Hannah Rowe, pushing New Zealand to a defendable total of 232, bowled out just before reaching the full 50 overs.
Halliday showcased her full range of shots, including innovative flicks and sweeps, adding a touch of creativity to her innings as she adapted to India’s field setups. She struck her first six off Priya Mishra in the 38th over and reached her sixth ODI fifty in the 40th over. Her partnership of 47 runs off 41 balls with Rowe for the seventh wicket was crucial, but New Zealand fell short of their desired target as Halliday was eventually caught at deep midwicket. Lea Tahuhu’s quick 24 off 14 balls, featuring two fours and a six, provided a late flourish that pushed New Zealand beyond the 230 mark.
India’s Improved Fielding and Bowling Display
After a lackluster fielding display in the previous ODI, where India dropped six catches, the fielders came out with renewed energy in the series decider. Fielding stalwarts Radha Yadav and Jemimah Rodrigues were particularly sharp, making life difficult for New Zealand’s openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer during the powerplay. Rodrigues was especially impressive with a near run-out in the third over, forcing Bates to dive to make her ground, and later executed a direct-hit run-out that sent Bates back to the pavilion.
Priya Mishra, with her accurate wrong’uns, along with Deepti Sharma, dismantled the New Zealand middle order. Deepti’s sharp catching in the slip cordon further bolstered the Indian bowling attack, and she finished with excellent figures of 3 for 39, her decisive bowling containing New Zealand’s scoring and helping to keep the target within reach for the Indian batters.
Mandhana’s Steady and Patient Century
India’s chase was headlined by a cautious yet impactful innings from Smriti Mandhana, who came in determined to amend her early-series failures. Her discipline was evident as she left several balls outside the off-stump in the opening overs, reflecting her focus on building a steady innings. Mandhana had a slice of luck when she survived an inside edge onto her pad, which could have led to her dismissal had New Zealand opted for a review.
Mandhana finally started finding the boundary in the ninth over, showcasing her signature shots with a pull against Sophie Devine and a straight drive against Eden Carson. This approach allowed her to settle in before playing more aggressively. At the other end, Yastika Bhatia kept the scoreboard ticking with 35 runs, partnering Mandhana for a 76-run stand for the second wicket, before being dismissed by a catch-and-bowl from Devine.
Harmanpreet’s Resilience and a Fitting Finish
With a solid platform set by Mandhana and Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur walked in at No. 4 and anchored the rest of the innings. Harmanpreet played with caution initially but gradually picked up the pace, complementing Mandhana’s attacking strokes. Mandhana brought up her century, her eighth in ODIs, off 121 balls with a push down the ground. Shortly after reaching the milestone, she was bowled by Hannah Rowe for exactly 100, leaving India in a favorable position.
As Mandhana exited, Jemimah Rodrigues came in and played an aggressive cameo, hitting four boundaries and pushing India to the brink of victory. She fell to an lbw by Fran Jonas, but Harmanpreet stayed at the crease, unfazed, finishing the match with a precise boundary to seal the series win in the 45th over.
Key Takeaways: India’s All-Round Dominance
This victory highlighted India’s potential as a cohesive unit, with impressive performances in all departments. Mandhana’s ability to bounce back after two low scores demonstrated her adaptability, while Harmanpreet’s stability showcased her experience in finishing chases under pressure. India’s bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma, set the stage by dismantling New Zealand’s lineup, and the fielding was far sharper than in previous games, reflecting a collective improvement in focus and execution.
This series win will be a major morale booster for India as they continue to build toward future tournaments, showing their capability to perform under pressure and chase challenging targets with a composed approach.
