India and New Zealand women cricket teams faced off in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the series tied at 1-1, the game was a high-stakes decider, drawing immense attention from fans. New Zealand, fresh off their T20 World Cup win, aimed to clinch the series, while India hoped to secure a memorable home victory. The match unfolded with gripping developments, including stellar performances, dropped catches, and critical partnerships. Here’s an in-depth look into the key highlights of this closely contested game.
Match Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Teams | India Women vs. New Zealand Women |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Series Status | Tied at 1-1 |
| Date | October 29, 2024 |
| India Squad | Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Thakur Singh, Radha Yadav, Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Amanjot Kaur, Anjali Sarvani, Taniyaa Bhatia, Yastika Bhatia |
| New Zealand Squad | Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Lauren Down, Brooke Halliday, Katey Martin (WK), Hayley Jensen, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas, Hannah Rowe, Molly Penfold, Lea Tahuhu, Izzy Gaze, Georgia Plimmer |
First Innings: New Zealand’s Innings – Setting the Target
New Zealand’s captain, Sophie Devine, opted to bat first in hopes of building a solid score for India to chase. However, the start was rocky. Despite early efforts to stabilize, New Zealand quickly found themselves on the back foot due to steady pressure from India’s bowlers.
- Top Order Struggles: New Zealand lost two crucial wickets within the first nine overs. A quick run-out involving Suzie Bates and a wicket from Saima Thakor left the visitors reeling at 31/2.
- Priya Mishra’s Breakthroughs: Priya Mishra bowled impeccably in her opening spell, dismissing Devine and Plimmer, both crucial batters, by the 19th over, leaving New Zealand at a vulnerable 66/4.
- Rebuilding with Halliday and Gaze: Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze steadied New Zealand’s innings somewhat, pushing the team to 108/5 by the 30th over. Their patient partnership staved off further damage and hinted at a potential recovery.
- Devine and Bates’ Contributions: Before their dismissals, Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates contributed essential runs, with Devine’s 79-run knock serving as a foundation that helped New Zealand set a target of 259.
- Radha Yadav’s Standout Fielding and Bowling: Radha Yadav impressed with two spectacular catches, breaking crucial partnerships and returning figures of 4/69.
Second Innings: India’s Chase – A Tumultuous Response
Chasing 259, India’s batting lineup faced challenges early in the innings, with New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr creating problems from the outset.
- Early Blows: Smriti Mandhana, who had been struggling with form, was dismissed for a duck by Lea Tahuhu, further aggravating India’s woes as the team slipped to 26/3 within the first five overs.
- Middle-Order Stand by Harmanpreet and Rodrigues: Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues showed resilience, forming a 38-run stand that brought brief stability to the innings. However, both were ultimately dismissed by Devine, who proved pivotal with both bat and ball.
- Radha Yadav and Saima Thakor’s Ninth-Wicket Stand: At 77/5, India’s innings looked bleak. But Radha Yadav and Saima Thakor combined to post a 70-run stand—the highest ninth-wicket partnership in India’s women’s ODI history. Radha’s 48 runs and Thakor’s support brought India close, though the chase ultimately fell short.
- New Zealand’s Persistent Bowling Attack: New Zealand’s Jess Kerr and Lea Tahuhu delivered consistently. Tahuhu’s three-wicket haul further stifled India’s chase, complemented by Devine’s two crucial wickets.
- Fielding Errors: India’s missed catches, particularly from Deepti Sharma, allowed New Zealand’s batters to capitalize. Plimmer and Bates benefited from these lapses, which shifted momentum in favor of New Zealand.
Key Performances
New Zealand
- Sophie Devine: 79 runs and 3/27 with the ball
- Suzie Bates: A well-timed 58
- Lea Tahuhu: Key wickets early on with 3/42
India
- Radha Yadav: All-round performance with 48 runs and 4/69
- Saima Thakor: Supported Radha in a 70-run partnership for the ninth wicket
Takeaways from the Match
- India’s Fielding and Catching Need Improvement: Dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities impacted India’s chances significantly.
- New Zealand’s Resilience in Middle Overs: Despite losing early wickets, New Zealand’s middle order held firm, displaying the importance of partnerships.
- Importance of Partnerships in Pressure Situations: India’s ninth-wicket stand between Radha and Thakor was a silver lining in an otherwise difficult chase, underscoring the value of lower-order contributions.
- Sophie Devine’s Leadership and All-Round Ability: Devine’s captaincy and her performance with bat and ball were instrumental in New Zealand’s success, offering stability and strategic aggression.
- India’s Top-Order Struggles: The top-order collapse hindered India’s ability to chase down a challenging target. Improving stability in the top three batters could help India succeed in future contests.
Conclusion
The decider match between India Women and New Zealand Women brought exciting cricket action, highlighting skill, resilience, and areas for improvement on both sides. While New Zealand emerged victorious, India demonstrated moments of promise that reflect growth potential. Sophie Devine’s all-around performance cemented New Zealand’s series win, while Radha Yadav’s valiant efforts with bat and ball proved memorable for India.
As the series concludes, fans can look forward to India addressing these gaps in upcoming tournaments. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s series win reaffirms their momentum following their T20 World Cup success.
