New Zealand level series through Devine’s all-round brilliance

New Zealand Level Series through Devine's All-Round Brilliance

New Zealand's comprehensive 76-run victory over India in the second ODI has given them a crucial 1-1 parity in the three-match series. The win also bagged them Women's Championship points, greatly boosting their direct qualification path to next year's ODI World Cup.

Key Contributions

Senior cricketers Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates played crucial roles in the win. Devine scored 79 runs off 86 deliveries and took 3 wickets, while Bates added 58 runs.

Opening Partnership

Openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer laid the foundation of the match with a 87-run partnership off 15.3 overs. They hit 13 fours and a six in the first 15 overs, relying on timing rather than power.

Indian Fielding Woes

India's fielding was shoddy throughout the match, with Deepti Sharma dropping three catches and another reprieve being offered to Plimmer when she was still on 16.

Turning Point

Radha Yadav's excellent fielding play when she dived full stretch to her right from her position at mid-wicket to dismiss Plimmer for 41 marked a turning point in the match. India were able to put a lid on the scoring thereafter with the off-pace deliveries proving to be tough to score off.

Middle-Order Crisis

At 139 for 4 in the 32nd over, New Zealand were in need of a re-injection of momentum, which was provided by the pair of Devine and Maddy Green (42 off 41).