IND-W vs NZ-W 2nd ODI: New Zealand Wins in a Thrilling Encounter
The second ODI between India Women and New Zealand Women saw a thrilling contest unfold in Christchurch on February 12, 2023. New Zealand emerged victorious, winning by 4 runs in a nail-biting finish, and taking a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
A Close Contest from the Start
The match was a tight affair from the get-go. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, setting a challenging target of 272 runs. Amelia Kerr starred with a brilliant century (106 runs off 118 balls), while Sophie Devine also contributed significantly with a well-paced 64 runs.
India's bowlers struggled to contain the Kiwi batters, with Deepti Sharma being the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 50 runs.
India's Fightback
In reply, India's chase started well with a 54-run opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. However, the middle order struggled to maintain the momentum, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Richa Ghosh showed some promise with a quickfire 50, but it was not enough to take India over the line.
Harmanpreet Kaur (57 runs) and Pooja Vastrakar (44 runs) fought valiantly, but a late collapse saw India fall short of their target by 4 runs.
Key Moments
- Amelia Kerr's brilliant century was a key factor in New Zealand's victory.
- India's middle order collapse proved to be decisive in the match.
- Richa Ghosh's quickfire half-century kept India in the hunt.
- The last few overs saw a tense battle, with both teams fighting hard for victory.
Looking Ahead
The win gives New Zealand a strong start to the series, and they will be looking to clinch the series in the third and final ODI. India, on the other hand, will need to regroup and improve their performance if they are to win the series.
This match highlighted the competitive nature of women's cricket and showed that every game can be a nail-biter. The next ODI promises to be another exciting encounter, and fans will be eager to see if India can bounce back.