New Zealand women beat India Women by 3 wickets in low-scoring 2nd ODI to level series

Sophie Devine scored a calming 33 © Getty Images

The New Zealand women underwent some nervy situations in their chase of 164 during the second One-Day International against India women at Bangalore, but ultimately sealed a series-levelling victory. Sophie Devine was the star of the innings for the White Ferns with a calming 33 under pressure, while she received adequate assistance from Katie Perkins and others.

The Indian women bowled quite well for most part but were guilty of giving away too many runs by way of extras. Jhulan Goswami was as accurate as ever and was rewarded with the wicket of Suzie Bates in the third over of the match. Rachel Priest and Amy Satterthwaite then got together to put on a steadying partnership. LIVE UPDATES: India Women vs New Zealand Women, 2nd ODI at Bangalore

However, New Zealand were dealt a

double-blow on the score of 46 with Priest and Maddie Green getting out of successive deliveries to the bowling of Rajeshwari Gayakwad. Satterthwaite was guilty of indecisive running and a Mithali Raj direct-hit resulted in closure of her innings for 23.

Fears of a collapse were temporarily alleviated by Sophie Devine and Katie Perkins, both scoring into their thirties, but they threw their wickets away in quick succession just when it looked like the Kiwis would seal an easy victory. Perkins went for an unnecessarily aggressive shot to lose her wicket for 30, while Devine was stumped on 33.

Goswami continued to bowl accurately in the latter half of the innings and got Kate Broadmore’s wicket with a deceiving off cutter. She kept it nice and tight and the New Zealanders were under constant pressure while she bowled. However, Leigh Kasperek and Anna Peterson held the nerve to get the White Ferns past the line. Peterson took the attack to the bowlers and finished with an unbeaten 23 off 22 balls.

In the first innings, The Indian women were restricted to a modest total of 163 by the New Zealand women in the second One-Day International (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) lost to New Zealand Women 164 for 7 in 44.2 overs (Sophie Devine 33, Katie Perkins 30; Jhulan Goswami 2 for 14)