IND Ladies vs NZ Ladies 2024/25, IND-W vs NZ-W third ODI Match Report, October 29, 2024

India 236 for 4 (Mandhana 100, Harmanpreet 59, Rowe 2-47) beat New Zealand 232 (Halliday 86, Plimmer 39, Deepti 3-39, Mishra 2-41) by 76 runs

After scores of 5 and 0 within the first two ODIs, Smriti Mandhana regained her contact within the sequence decider as she cracked her third ODI century of the yr, serving to India beat New Zealand by six wickets and take the three-match sequence 2-1. She was ably supported by first Yastika Bhatia (35) after which Harmanpreet Kaur (59 not out) as India placed on a chasing masterclass in Ahmedabad.

Batting first, New Zealand rode largely on Brooke Halliday‘s career-best 86 off 96 balls as she lifted her aspect from the depths of 88 for five within the twenty fourth over to 232 all out in 49.5 overs. Groups batting first received each ODIs within the sequence, however India have been having none of it as the highest order shone by means of within the chase as they romped dwelling with 34 balls to spare.

Mandhana had fallen to the outside-the-off-stump lure twice in two innings on this ODI sequence. Within the first recreation, she carved Jess Kerr to backward level. Two days later, she did it once more, chipping it straight to level for a duck. So, when Mandhana got here out in pursuit of New Zealand’s goal of 233, she was circumspect to the purpose that within the first three overs, she shouldered arms to a minimum of 5 balls. She was able to be affected person and construct her innings. The transfer paid dividends.

Mandhana has had 2024 in ODIs, having scored two centuries and a half-century in six innings coming into this recreation. On Tuesday, she performed the affected person recreation. She was on 9 off 26 balls at one level, however didn’t throw it away. She had a slice of luck when she seemingly inside-edged a Lea Tahuhu full-length supply on to her pad within the third over. Replays later instructed the ball had hit her pad first and had New Zealand reviewed, she would have been out. It was the luck Mandhana wanted, and she or he didn’t look again.

On the different finish, Shafali, although, had no such luck. She received going with two crips fours, however was caught down the leg aspect after a faint nick within the fourth over.

Mandhana was joined by Bhatia within the center and the 2 saved their composure within the chase. Mandhana struck her first 4 within the ninth over, a swivel-pull towards Sophie Devine, adopted by a chip down the bottom off Eden Carson. Bhatia additionally struck just a few sensible boundaries. They added 76 runs for the second wicket earlier than Bhatia was caught and bowled by Devine.

Harmanpreet walked out at No. 4 and with a platform set, the 2 went about their innings calmly. Mandhana introduced up her half-century with a short-arm jab by means of midwicket and shortly began discovering the fence with extra regularity. Harmanpreet, too, was cautious initially however quickly discovered the measure of the floor and the runs began flowing from each ends. They introduced up the 50-run stand for the third wicket within the thirty first over.

Harmanpreet did go down with cramps not lengthy after, however that was not going to cease her. She unleashed an array of drives and pulls with Mandhana additionally going after Devine. Harmanpreet reached her half-century off 54 balls whereas Mandhana received to her century, the eighth of her profession, off 121 balls with a push down the bottom. She fell with out including one other run, cleaned up by Hannah Rowe, however the job was performed by then.

Jemimah Rodrigues walked out and instantly received 4 fours away as India may see the ending line. She fell lbw to Fran Jonas with India needing a run, and Harmanpreet fittingly completed off the chase within the forty fifth over.

Earlier, Halliday braved the scorching Ahmedabad warmth as she strung vital stands with Izabella Gaze and Rowe, earlier than Tahuhu smashed an unbeaten 24 off 14 balls to get New Zealand previous the 230-run mark.

It was a much-improved Indian fielding present on show within the third ODI. They’d dropped as many as six catches within the second ODI, to go along with a number of misfields, as they went down closely. However they got here out as a unit on a mission on Tuesday, led by the 2 common fielding stars, Radha Yadav and Rodrigues, as they pissed off the New Zealand openers, Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, within the powerplay.

Rodrigues was into the act within the third over as she nearly effected a run-out after a shocking save at brief extra-cover, with Bates having to dive full size to simply about make her crease. Rodrigues’ brilliance got here to the fore within the seventh over once more when there was a spot of miscommunication between the 2 batters and this time Bates was caught nicely wanting her crease regardless of the dive.

Plimmer had, in the meantime, began to seek out the cling of the red-soil floor. She received her boundary-counter operating with a stable on-drive off Renuka Thakur earlier than piercing the hole between mid-off and canopy off the identical bowler. Saima Thakor was additionally pushed for 2 fours in three balls within the sixth over, however she bounced again with the wicket of Lauren Down, eradicating her with a delicate size ball that tailed away late and caught her outdoors edge.

Devine, the star of the second ODI, regarded ominous from the get-go, putting two authoritative fours inside her first seven balls. However she was undone by a shocking fallacious’un from Priya Mishra as she went again to a supply that she ideally ought to have been ahead to, and the ball crashed into her center stump.

Halliday, although, regarded the half all the way in which. She received off the mark with a chic off drive, however common wickets on the different finish pinned New Zealand down. Plimmer was eliminated by Mishra, who induced a thick outdoors edge, with Deepti Sharma taking a pointy catch at slip – she was responsible of dropping three catches within the second ODI.

New Zealand then misplaced half their aspect when one other miscommunication ensued between Maddy Inexperienced and Halliday, with the previous caught in the midst of the pitch. Rodrigues was once more within the thick of issues at level.

Halliday needed to do the restore job, and she or he discovered an ally in Gaze. Halliday struck her first six within the thirty eighth over off Mishra, and shortly reached her sixth ODI fifty with a flick within the fortieth over.

Gaze fell chipping a full toss meekly again to Deepti for her first wicket, however Halliday and Rowe carried on by including 47 off 41 balls for the seventh wicket. Halliday, who was spent by that point, put her foot on the pedal, even exhibiting off just a few modern reverse hits and paddles. She managed to generate sufficient energy to clear the ropes twice – as soon as off Harmanpreet Kaur after which off Deepti – however fell within the forty sixth over caught at deep midwicket.

Rowe fell quickly after however Tahuhu smashed two fours and a six to assist New Zealand finish on a excessive. Ultimately, they have been nicely beneath par.

Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo