Published: Jul 01, 2015, 12:22 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 01, 2015, 12:33 PM (IST)
The Indian women have been restricted to a modest total of 163 by the New Zealand women in the second One-Day International (ODI) at Bangalore. The pitch was once again a difficult one to bat on and perhaps the Indian women will think of this as a defendable total. LIVE UPDATES: India Women vs New Zealand Women, 2nd ODI at Bangalore
Like in the first game, the Indian innings never had too much flow to it. The first wicket, that of Smriti Mandhana, fell on 33 after 11.1 overs. The run rate never really moved up from there, indicative of just how difficult a pitch it was. However Thirush Kamini played sedately on the green top and scored a fighting 50.
Indian skipper Mithali Raj fell to her New Zealand counterpart Suzie Bates for 13 runs, albeit to a poor lbw judgment by the umpire. Poonam Raut then partnered Thirush for a sizeable partnership without really contributing to it. She got out for 8 off 38 balls to Lea Tahuhu.
The in form Thirush was in fine touch, however she cramped up and had to leave the field in the 36th over. Shikha Pandey did not do much to revive the innings, getting dismissed for 2 off 11 balls to a flighted, turning delivery by Leigh Kasperek.
Jhulan Goswami, the dangerwoman from the first game, only managed one run off eight balls before falling prey to some good bowling by Lea. Sneh Rana got out for 2 off 11 balls becoming Suzie Bates second victim. Thirush came back to bat later, but was impeded by the cramp and was soon dismissed by Suzie for a fighting 61.
The Indian innings was held together in the middle overs by Harmanpreet Kaur. She constructed her innings very well under the circumstances. She began slowly but pressed the gas towards the latter stages of the innings and played some classy shots.
Brief scores:
India Women 163 in 49.3 overs (Thirush Kamini 61, Harmanpreet Kaur 31; Suzie Bates 3 for 21) vs New Zealand Women.
