New Zealand vs India 2nd ODI highlights: Amelia Kerr scores classy ton as NZ clinch thriller

11.30 am: India trail 0-2 in the 5-match series, but it was a much closer match than the first one. Certainly some positives to take, but a few familiar issues as well. And on a mood-brightening node from India’s perspective, we shall leave with you this post from Smriti Mandhana.

NZ WIN BY 3 WICKETS! The Kerrs hug it out in the middle. Jess Kerr hits the winning runs but the day belongs to Amelia Kerr who has played a stunning innings, unbeaten on 119. The 49th over went for 16 runs and just one of those came from a boundary. India’s fielding again let them down under pressure.

WICKET! Over 47.3: Hayley Jensen 4(8) b Deepti Sharma: A fourth for the Indian offspinner, another bowled! New Zealand 253/7

NZ 250/6 after 48 overs, need 21 from 18 balls: India persisting with spin here too. Harmanpreet’s over goes for 6 runs. NZ closing in!

CENTURY FOR AMELIA KERR! What a batter. What an allrounder. What a cricketer. A second ODI century of her career (the first being a double century) and what a sensational innings it has been from Amelia Kerr. Gets there with a stunningly good sweep shot. The timing on that, uff!

WICKET! Over 45.1: Katey Martin 20(25) b Deepti Sharma India chipping away at the other end. Deepti Sharma shortens the length and Martin cramps herself while going down the track. The lack of boundaries (And sharp fielding as we saw from Yastika in the last over) helping. New Zealand 239/6

NZ 233/5 after 44 overs, need 38 off 36 balls:

NZ 226/5 after 43 overs, need 45 off 42 balls: Three-run over from Gayakwad to finish her spell.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad 10-0-53-1

Poonam Yadav 10-0-41-1

NZ now need 48 off 48 balls. Amelia Kerr batting on 88*. What an innings this has been.

NZ 213/5 after 40 overs, need 58 off 60 balls: CHANCE! Poonam slows it up, Martin goes for a late cut but gets a huge deflection that makes it tough for Taniya Bhatia. She juggles, nearly pulls off a great catch but goes down. We are into the final stretch.

NZ 209/5 after 39 overs: Kerr is into the 80s. Poonam and Harmanpreet bowling now, can India get another?

WICKET! Over 36.6: Brooke Halliday 13(17) ct Deepti Sharma b Harmanpreet Kaur A well deserved wicket for the Indian vice captain. Halliday guides one to first slip, good on India to keep the attacking option in place. New Zealand 200/5

NZ 199/4 after 36 overs: The NZ worm is constantly pulling away from India. Halliday too is off to a busy start, scoring a four in that Poonam over.

NZ 191/4 after 35 overs: OH CHANCE! Halliday chips one down the ground off Harmanpreet Kaur, Yastika Bhatia at mid-off just goes after it in seemingly slow-mo and the high catch evades her. She is having an interesting day in the field.

WICKET! 33.3: Maddy Green 52(61) ct Yastika Bhatia b Poonam Yadav: Fifty and out! Not long after reaching her half century, the well-set Maddy Green departs. Poonam Yadav provides the breakthrough as the century partnership is broken. Can India find their way back now? New Zealand 183/4

HALF CENTURY: Maddy Green now! What an innings from the NZ middle order batter. NZ 178/3 after 33 overs.

NZ 174/3 after 32 overs: Green with two boundaries in one Gayakwad over. Poonam then comes back and tightens things up with a 2-run over. But India really need wickets at this point.

NZ 164/3 after 30 overs: A century partnership for the 4th wicket. It was for the 5th wicket for India. NZ are in control at the moment. 107 more off 120 balls needed.

NZ 157/3 after 29 overs: The 150 comes up for NZ. Harmanpreet and Vastrakar bowling in tandem. The 100-run partnership comes up. Taniya Bhatia does brilliantly to save 5 wides! A bouncer standing up to the stumps and she blocks it!

HALF CENTURY: Amelia Kerr is playing a classy knock for her side. Half century for the young allrounder. NZ 140/3 (26), need 131 more off 144 balls. India turned to Harmanpreet for a breakthrough there, starting to get a bit desperate at this point.

NZ 135/3 after 25 overs: At the half-way stage, NZ have recovered brilliantly. On course to chase this down, need 136 more from 25 overs.

NZ 127/3 after 24 overs: Green and Kerr have built a brilliant partnership and now India are under pressure. A couple of tough chances have been put down too... a while earlier Yastika Bhatia off Kerr, now Taniya Bhatia off Green. It looped up off a leading edge, Taniya dived forward and got her glove to it but it didn’t stick. Gayakwad the bowler.

NZ 121/3 after 23 overs: Contrasting routes to get there but the NZ innings is pretty much exactly at the same point India’s were. But India here were rebuilding and slowed down, NZ have two set batters in the middle. Fascinatingly poised. India were 120/3 at this point.

NZ 114/3 after 22 overs: India need some quiet overs to build pressure here. Required rate still well within control for NZ. This is the phase India significantly slowed down, can’t allow NZ to get ahead.

NZ 110/3 after 21 overs: Partnership is now 55 for Green and Kerr off 75 balls. Another four in Poonam’s over, Kerr puts away a full toss.

NZ 104/3 after 20 overs: Simran continuing to mix her run-up, choosing to come in from a significant angle often. A four for Green in that over. Great 10-over spell for NZ this.

Correction: That chance was for Amelia Kerr.

NZ 94/3 after 18 overs: OH CHANCE! Green cuts one, Yastika dives forward at point but cannot hold on to a chance that came ankle high. Tough chance but a chance nonetheless. Simran could have used a wicket to calm her nerves.

NZ 89/3 after 17 overs: DRINKS BREAK. Time for a breather, India have taken three big wickets but Kerr is starting to put pressure back on the Indians now. Nice ebb and flow to this match.

NZ 86/3 after 16 overs: A rather tough first over for Simran Dil Bahadur in ODI cricket. Her run-up is just a bit off at the moment and she was trying to find the radar... a couple of wides, one of them nearly all the way for four. But she gets it right towards the end, good to see a quick chat from Harman there too.

NZ 79/3 after 15 overs: Poonam Yadav starts off with a tidy over. India would love to get A.Kerr here.

NZ 76/3 after 14 overs: NZ not backing down here. Kerr with another four off Vastrakar and then Green gets a streaky outside edge that flies past Yastika at slip.

NZ 67/3 after 12 overs: Pooja is having a good spell on return but just bowling the odd boundary ball that she has to avoid. Good touch, Kerr is in too.

NZ 57/3 after 10 overs: A great start for NZ has turned into trouble in no time. Big job for Melie Kerr.

WICKET! OVER 8.5: Amy Satterthwaite 0(1) ct Harmanpreet Kaur b Deepti Sharma WHAT A CATCH! Now Satterthwaite falls and that’s the big three of NZ batting back in the pavilion in no time. New Zealand 55/3

HUGE WICKET! WICKET! 7.6: Sophie Devine 33(30) ct Yastika Bhatia b Rajeshwari Gayakwad Sharp juggling catch by Yastika Bhatia. Sophie Devine out for 33 off 30 balls, she was looking in ominous touch. Rajeshwari Gayakwad strikes.

NZ 44/1 after 7 overs: Devine and Kerr keep the scoreboard ticking in the last couple of overs as India stick to spinners.

WICKET! Over 4.4: Suzie Bates 16(14) st Taniya Bhatia b Deepti Sharma Taniya Bhatia with a moment of brilliance from behind the stumps! Suzie Bates, the centurion from the first ODI, is stumped for 16. Deepti Sharma with the wicket. New Zealand 35/1

NZ 30/0 after 4 overs: A four for Devine off Gayakwad. Flier this for White Ferns. Deepti Sharma next up for India, who are ringing in the changes.

NZ 23/0 after 3 overs: This has once again be a wayward start from Vastrakar. She didn’t start off too well in the first ODI too (although a dropped catch didn’t help). Two boundaries either side of the wicket for Bates with Bhatia standing up to the stumps.

NZ 12/0 after 2 overs: Just three runs in Gayakwad’s over and it wasn’t four because of a superb fielding effort by debutant Simran. Great effort from point to chase and pull the back in.

NZ 9/0 after 1 over: Pooja Vastrakar is welcomed into the attack by a four each by Devine and Bates. If these two get going, no target can be safe. India have Gayakwad from the other end, spin early.

India: 270/6 (50) Can Mithali Raj and Co pull off this defence? They’d have to do without Jhulan Goswami. India have Taniya Bhatia taking the field as substitute wicketkeeper as Richa Ghosh has some issues with her leg.

Innings break: But for a slowdown between overs 20 and 31 forced because of the fall of wickets, that’s actually close to the ideal batting template for India in my opinion. Aggressive start by top 3, one of the middle order batters batting around Mithali Raj. Do have to wonder though about Sneh Rana not being in the XI. A 5-over cameo from her at the end might just have pushed India towards 290 for instance. India will hope the spinners who have been picked, do the job with the ball

End of India’s innings: 270/6 Mithali Raj remains unbeaten on 66, Richa Ghosh played a fantastic hand in the middle overs to resurrect the innings. Sophie Devine rues the fielding in a quick interview, had the chances been taken she thinks they could have restricted India to much lower.

India 270/6 after 50 overs. This is now India’s highest total in ODIs against New Zealand, home or way, going past 265/7 in Derby in 2017. The day India posted a huge win to keep their World Cup campaign alive thanks to a Mithali Raj century. The last couple of overs could have gone a bit better for India, but Pooja Vastrakar couldn’t quite find the gaps with her swings.

India 264/5 after 49 overs: Really good over from Jensen, all things considered. Six singles.

Break in play: WK Katey Martin seems to have gotten her finger jammed underneath the ball as she went to gather one down the leg side.

India 258/5 after 48 overs: A streaky four for Vastrakar, a clever ramp by Mithali and it is a good over for India. Past 250. Can they get to 275 now?

India 247/5 after 47 overs: Vastrakar in the middle with license to go big. And she can.

Could be a six in most NZ grounds.

WICKET! Over 45.5: Richa Ghosh 65 (64) ct Amelia Kerr b Sophie Devine: End of a fine innings from the Indian youngster. She finds the fielder in the deep. Now, hopefully she recovers from whatever was troubling her. India 243/5

HALF CENTURY! A 50-plus score for the 68th time in ODIs. Mithali Raj, what a legend! Has accelerated steadily here and India are pushing for a big score.

A 100-run partnership off 101 balls between Richa Ghosh and Mithali Raj. 238/4 after 45 overs.

India 226/4 after 43 overs: Another physio visit for Richa Ghosh. She is carrying on though, another four in that over too.

First ODI half century! Superb counterattacking innings from Richa Ghosh. A moment to remember for her. A 50 off 49 balls when India were in serious trouble... one has to really hope she has not done too much damage to her leg. A breakthrough innings so far.

India 209/4 after 41 overs: Richa Ghosh on to 49.

IND: 203/4 after 40 overs: Momentum with 10 overs to go. Richa Ghosh’s highest ODI score (highest international score, in fact) with a superb straight six! Goes to 46 with a hit down the ground off a free hit.

India 192/4 after 39 overs: A much-needed boundary for Mithali Raj. It’s been a while, she got the timing right along with the placement there. Controlled pull, just the second four for the Indian captain after a superb square drive early on in the innings.

50-run partnership. But some treatment for Richa Ghosh on her leg. She has played a lovely cameo but is struggling a bit here physically. 185/4 after 38 overs.

India 178/4 after 37 overs: Mithali is trying to play the big shots every now and then, but the timing has just eluded her. She is still there though. Richa, meanwhile, has overtaken Raj a while back and is into the 30s. Good cameo so far but wonder if she is starting to feel the pain on her leg again.

India 168/4 after 36 overs: Richa continuing to go for her shots. And a couple of twos in that over for Mithali as well. 25 runs in that last 5 overs since the drinks break.

India 168/4 after 35 overs: Richa is continuing to attempt the big shots against the spinners, not trying to curb her instincts. This is a decent phase for India.

Break in play: Richa Ghosh slips at the non-striker’s end while running, but luckily no twist. Just a Quite frequent 2s and even a few 3s thrown into the mix. India have taken a leaf out of New Zealand’s batting in the first ODI... that’s nice to see.

India 151/4 after 33 overs: Another half chance in the field that NZ have not taken. Richa takes on Halliday at long off, off Jonas’ bowling, the fielder misjudged the trajectory and it goes for 4.

Richa Ghosh in the middle for India now with Mithali Raj... remember 108/1 in 20 overs? Seems a fair way back now.

End of 20 overs: India 108/1 

 End of 30 overs: India 138/4

DRINKS: Things have turned rather quickly in Queenstown. India were 108/1 at the end of 20 overs, they are now 143/4 in 31 overs as we head into a drinks break. Mithali Raj and Richa Ghosh in the middle.

WICKET! Over 28.1: Harmanpreet Kaur 10(18) ct Amelia Kerr b Fran Jonas: Oh dear, what a way to get out. Harman just gets into a really awkward position by coming down the track to a full toss, cramped herself. Was going to be a juicy full toss if she was in the crease. Just one of those things that happen when you are searching. Umpire checks for no ball, and fair catch. Given out. India 135/4

India 135/3 after 28 overs: Oh, nervy moment! Mithali goes for an uncharacteristic slog against Jess Kerr, top edge goes over the keeper’s head and lands safely.

India 131/3 after 26 overs: Oh, chance for NZ! Leading edge from Harmanpreet, falls short of the fielder at cover. JKerr nearly provides another big breakthrough.

India 127/3 after 25 overs: Mithali Raj drive through offside for four is here. Delightful timing! Kaur too looking in good touch (in terms of middling the ball) early on, but not able to find the gaps just yet. Still a good position to be in at the halfway stage.

India 121/3 after 24 overs: A 8-run over from Devine, helped by an overthrow. NZ have had so many better days than today on the field. AKerr with a one-run over from the other end. NZ have pulled things back nicely.

WICKET! Over 21.2: Sabbhineni Meghana 49(50) ct & b Amelia Kerr: S Meghana played a superb innings, looked set for a first ODI half century but just lost her way in the last few overs. Amelia Kerr with a return catch, the opener is out for 49. Solid knock though. India 111/3

WICKET! Over 20.3: Yastika Bhatia 31(38) ct Suzie Bates b Sophie Devine: Superstar Sophie does get the breakthrough after all, Suzie Bates was never going to drop that even given how NZ’s catching has been. She is as safe as they come. Yastika Bhatia falls for 31. India 110/2

India 108/1 after 20 overs: Sophie Devine gives us one of the moments of the series. She has rattled Meghana and the opener goes for a big shot next ball, Halliday got under it, seems to have taken it but it slips out in the end. Devine had even started giving a send off before seeing the ball pop out... and nearly a run out chance there too. All happening. Next over, a half chance for stumping goes begging.

Time for Sophie Devine. A big test for Meghana coming up.

India 101/1 after 18 overs: 100 comes up in the 18th over for India. Really good start after winning the toss. Two more twos in that over... that’s good to see as well.

India 95/1 after 17 overs: Oh, Jonas should have gone for the catch there! She pulls out of the return catch at the last second because Meghana was in her way. Inexperience there. Life for Yastika Bhatia.

India 92/1 after 16 overs: AKerr comes on for the first time today. A steady over from her, but India still manage to get 6 off it. NZ did a lot of that in their middle overs in the first ODI, nice to see that.

India 86/1 after 15 overs: DRINKS BREAK: And breathe! Meghana has raced on to 42 off 35 balls, Yastika Bhatia has come out looking in good touch too, on 14 off 17.

India 80/1 after 14 overs: Bhatia with a lovely cover drive, this one over the fielder at short cover, for four.

India 76/1 after 13 overs: Very impressive how Meghana is just trusting her timing and continuing to play the lofted shots. What a knock this has been. 41 off 33 so far, two more fours in that Jonas over, both lofted shots through the offside.

Time for Fran Jonas and her left arm spin.

India 66/1 after 11 overs: Yastika Bhatia in the middle and she gets going with a delightful drive. Four.

WICKET! Over 11.1 Shafali Verma c Satterthwaite b Mair 24 (38): Shafali Verma was living a charmed life in the middle, but finally NZ take one of the chances she offers. Rosemary Mair breaks the partnership. Captain Satterthwaite with a good catch.

India 57/0 after 10 overs: Thrill a minute opening powerplay there. Started with New Zealand swinging the ball one way then the other... finishes with a 50-run unbroken stand. A couple of threes thrown into the mix with all the boundaries too.

India 52/0 after 9 overs: Another four for Meghana, a delightful lofted cover drive!

An edge that went between slip and gully. 

An edge that went to slip and was dropped. 

An edge (was it leading edge, not quite sure) and return catch opportunity missed. 

 Shafali Verma is living, quite literally, living on the edge. But she is into the 20s now.

India 46/0 after 8 overs: Jensen keeps things tight from the other end after that huge over for India. Mair replaces JKerr then and the tall pacer starts off with a tiday over too. Was that a chance at the end of that over? A leading edge back to the bowler and Mair gets fingertips to it, almost didn’t seem to expect it there. It is indeed a dropped chance you have to say, second life for Shafali.

India 40/0 after 6 overs: 0-6-3-wd-4-4-4 What an over for India! A six for Shafali Verma over midwicket, then three fours for S Meghana to finish things off. The Indian openers are going after Jess Kerr, who has been brilliant for NZ so far in this tour. (And they ran a three too, how about that?)

India 18/0 after 5 overs: Couple of runs from Jensen’s over. The ball is just starting to stop swinging around.

India 16/0 after 4 overs: The last couple of overs end with a boundary each for Shafali and Meghana. Nice drives, both. The openers starting to settle down.

India 6/0 after 2 overs: DROPPED! Shafali Verma gets a life. Jess Kerr induces the outside edge, Maddy Green goes the wrong way to start but the ball is a tad bit to her left. Made all the difference. Can Shafali make this count?

Early life for Suzie Bates in the first ODI, went on to score century. Early life for Shafali Verma in the second ODI... be hopeful, India fans!

India 5/0 after 1 over: Hayley Jensen with the first over... she moves the ball outside (Jess Kerr will move it the other way next over.) Shafali gets away with an edge that flies between slip and gully.

TEAM NEWS: Simran Dil Bahadur to make her ODI debut! She replaces Jhulan Goswami in the XI. Couple of changes for NZ as well, with no Lea Tahuhu in the XI.

Meghana & Shafali in the middle. Here we go!

TOSS UPDATE: India have won the toss and Mithali Raj has opted to bat first. For NZ, Amy Satterthwaite is leading but only as part of contingency planning. Sophie Devine is INDEED playing and she will open too. Interesting!

03.00 am: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of New Zealand vs India, the second of five ODIs. Can Mithali Raj & Co begin bounce back after their comprehensive defeat in Queenstown?

New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI as it happened: Mithali’s knock in vain as White Ferns win by 62 runs

Watch highlights: New Zealand defeat Mithali Raj and Co by 62 runs in first ODI

Screenshots in the blog courtesy: Amazon Prime