Riding on half-centuries by Rachel Priest and Suzie Bates, New Zealand recorded a comfortable six-wicket victory over India to take a 2-1 lead in their five-match one-day international series.
Friday's encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was the third and final tie of the tournament with ICC Women's Championship points on offer; with the win, the Kiwis climbed up to fifth on the table while India remained rooted to the bottom.
Set a target of 183, the visitor sailed home in 45.4 overs, due in no small part to a partnership of 125 runs for the opening wicket between Bates and Priest. Bates had edged Jhulan Goswami to first slip on one but the bowler was found to have overstepped by the smallest of margins. The New Zealand skipper carried on to make a steady 59 while India was left wondering what might have been.
At the other end, Priest made a watchful 64, only abandoning her caution when she swung Veda Krishnamurthy into the stands to raise her fifty. Both openers fell in the space of six balls, but Amy Satterthwaite was on hand to see New Zealand through.
Early wickets Earlier, India lost a pair of early wickets after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Thirushkamini, who had scored a valiant half-century on Wednesday, could only make four before she was caught in the gully off Sophie Devine.
Mithali Raj, the captain, steadied the ship with a 70-ball-30 before she edged a full delivery from Devine into the hands of the wicket-keeper.
India was steered towards safety by Veda Krishnamurthy, who made a career-best 61 here. The Karnataka girl, who returned to the side after being dropped for the previous game, built a stand of 71 runs for the fifth wicket with Deepti Sharma. With Veda at the crease, India hurried on, adding 70 runs in the last nine overs.
The total of 182 was the highest of the series and the first time the home team had batted out the 50 overs, but it would matter little in the end.
‘No problem with technique’ Veda Krishnamurthy who returned to form with a career-best 61 said in the post-match press conference that,“This game was very important to me because I’m playing an ODI after more than two years. I worked on the mental aspect (in the time I was away). Technique was never a problem for me. I used to fail because I used to lose it mentally.”
Meanwhile, the New Zealand opener Rachel Priest said her side’s catching, which was exceptionally good, and ground fielding was a factor in the result.
The fourth match of the series will be played here on Monday.
