New Zealand Women vs India Women were on fire on October 24, 2024. The match was crammed with great moments of intensity, top performances, and edge-of-the-seat excitement, making it an unforgettable opener to the series. Both teams came to the game with fierce intent to set the tone for the next two matches of this three-game ODI series.
New Zealand Women vs India Women: A Strong Start Sets Platform
New Zealand vs Indian women, New Zealand won the toss and batted first, putting India’s bowling under test. Suzie Bates and Bernadine Bezuidenhout batted together as the openers, hoping to give her side a good start. Bates is known for being very stable at the crease and gave an ideal start by scoring 55 runs off 70 balls.
The middle-order batters rose when Bates left but led New Zealand forward. Amelia Kerr, known for powerful hitting, scored 40 runs off 45 balls to provide an important mid-innings push. The skipper and Sophie Devine, also showed experience crafting 33 runs off 50 balls. Her watchful yet forceful innings held the team together, providing New Zealand with the platform they were seeking to score competitively. But promising starts proved only too brief for New Zealand’s batters against India’s bowling line-up, who managed to stifle them at 246 for 9 after their 50 overs.
New Zealand Women vs India Women: India’s Bowlers Set Competitive Target
Second Innings: India Women’s Reaction to the Target
Optimistic start to India’s innings with the pairing of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Smriti Mandhana is elegant and consistent. The tone of the innings was dominated by her as she produced 74 runs from 80 balls. She hit nine boundaries very clearly stating her timing and placement during the innings butShafali Verma started attacking and got 29 runs from 25 balls; however, she could leave only after getting dismissed via a well-placed Tahuhu delivery.
Mandhana and Rodrigues Build Momentum; Sharma and Rana Seal the Chase
Mandhana gained more momentum after Verma left. She found a stabilizing partner in Jemimah Rodrigues, who came in to stabilize the chase. Rodrigues played with poise and balance, rotating the strike easily and anchoring the innings alongside her skipper as they steered the score toward the target.
She was the new captain after Mandhana’s dismissal, taking over with her usual blend of power and patience. She hit 55 from 65 balls, constructing an innings that underlined her leadership skills and experience. At that stage, India needed a controlled finish to avoid any late drama.
Key Bowling Performances for New Zealand Women
There were some excellent bowling performances from the women’s side of New Zealand considering they lost the match. The best bowler from New Zealand who participated in the match was Lea Tahuhu. It was she who emerged energetic with her spell of bowling. In return, she took 3 wickets for 42 runs and had lines pretty tight that restricted batters to score. She had the complementing performance shown by Jess Kerr with the bowling spell as well as took 2 wickets for 40 runs. Fran Jonas, the young spinner, took 2/47 and kept the batters guessing with her variety. India’s batters stood firm to take victory.
Match Summary and Impact: New Zealand Women vs India Women ODI
India Women pulled off an exciting win against New Zealand Women in the first ODI. The match went right down to the wire as India Women emerged victorious by a 2-wicket margin. That gives them a 1-0 lead in the series, and the confidence will keep building up as they head into the next two matches. This was a true test of individual brilliance and a team effort.
Player of the Match
The Player of the Match award went to Smriti Mandhana for her brilliant performance. Her score of 74 runs not only set the tone for India’s innings but also provided a solid foundation for the successful chase. With her well-timed boundaries and composed style at the crease, she showcased her experience and skill, ultimately making her a deserving winner of the award.
Now, with the first match coming to a close, the focus would be on the second ODI in which New Zealand would be looking forward to leveling the series, while India would look for momentum and seal the game. This has been one of the high-profile matches, and the two teams have shown off their prowess and fighting spirit.
The second ODI promises more electrifying action from both strong teams as they face each other in the New Zealand Women vs India Women match.
