Ahmedabad: India, led by left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series by defeating New Zealand by 59 runs in the first women's one-day international here on Thursday, thanks to a brilliant performance by the bowlers. Chasing India's target of 228 runs, the New Zealand team collapsed for 168 runs in 40.4 overs in front of the sharp bowling of Radha (three wickets for 35 runs) and fast bowler Saima Thakor (two wickets for 26 runs). Deepti Sharma (one wicket for 35 runs) and Arundhati Reddy (one wicket for 21 runs) also took one wicket each. Earlier, Kerr sisters Amelia and Jess together took seven wickets, helping New Zealand restrict India to 227 runs in 44.3 overs. Leg spinner Amelia took four wickets for 42 runs while fast bowler Jess took three wickets for 49 runs, as New Zealand shocked India at regular intervals.
Off-spinner Eden Carson also took two wickets for 42 runs. Deepti (41), debutant Tejal Hasbanis (42), Shefali Verma (33), Yastika Bhatia (37) and Jemimah Rodrigues (35) lost wickets after a good start. New Zealand, chasing the target, lost the wicket of Suzie Bates (01) in the second over itself, who was caught by debutant Saima on her second ball by wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia.
Captain Sophie Devine (02) was run out in strange circumstances. After playing Deepti's ball, she came beyond the crease and did not return back to the crease. Deepti bowled the ball to Yastika and was run out by the Indian wicketkeeper before Divine reached the crease. Brook Halliday (39) and Maddy Green (31) gave New Zealand an innings-best 49-run partnership for the fifth wicket to give hope to the visiting team, but Saima returned to the bowling by catching Halliday on her own ball. Broke this partnership.
Maddy was also run out after two balls, due to which New Zealand's score became 128 runs for six wickets, after which the Indian bowlers tightened the screws and gave the team victory. Earlier, Indian batsmen also failed to convert a good start into a big innings. Tejal will be very disappointed as she was batting very well before becoming Amelia's victim. The right-handed batsman decided to go ahead and play a big shot on Amelia's ball, but missed and was stumped by wicketkeeper Isabella Gage.
The only strong partnership from India was between Jemimah and Tejal who added 61 runs for the fifth wicket. India had a bad start. Captain Smriti Mandhana returned to the pavilion in the third over itself. She gave an easy catch to Georgia Plimmer off Jess's ball. India lost wickets at regular intervals and never looked in a position to score big.
Off-spinner Eden Carson also took two wickets for 42 runs. Deepti (41), debutant Tejal Hasbanis (42), Shefali Verma (33), Yastika Bhatia (37) and Jemimah Rodrigues (35) lost wickets after a good start. New Zealand, chasing the target, lost the wicket of Suzie Bates (01) in the second over itself, who was caught by debutant Saima on her second ball by wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia.
Captain Sophie Devine (02) was run out in strange circumstances. After playing Deepti's ball, she came beyond the crease and did not return back to the crease. Deepti bowled the ball to Yastika and was run out by the Indian wicketkeeper before Divine reached the crease. Brook Halliday (39) and Maddy Green (31) gave New Zealand an innings-best 49-run partnership for the fifth wicket to give hope to the visiting team, but Saima returned to the bowling by catching Halliday on her own ball. Broke this partnership.
Maddy was also run out after two balls, due to which New Zealand's score became 128 runs for six wickets, after which the Indian bowlers tightened the screws and gave the team victory. Earlier, Indian batsmen also failed to convert a good start into a big innings. Tejal will be very disappointed as she was batting very well before becoming Amelia's victim. The right-handed batsman decided to go ahead and play a big shot on Amelia's ball, but missed and was stumped by wicketkeeper Isabella Gage.
The only strong partnership from India was between Jemimah and Tejal who added 61 runs for the fifth wicket. India had a bad start. Captain Smriti Mandhana returned to the pavilion in the third over itself. She gave an easy catch to Georgia Plimmer off Jess's ball. India lost wickets at regular intervals and never looked in a position to score big.
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