Smriti Mandhana played and top scored as India finished their warm-up assignments with two wins out of two, registering a 81-run win against West Indies at Rangiora Oval on Tuesday.
In the other match of the day, hosts White Ferns made a massive statement with a huge win against tournament favourites Australia. Led by a stunning 161* by captain Sophie Devine, and an unbroken 206-run partnership between her and Amelia Kerr, New Zealand chased down 321 in 43.1 overs in Christchurch.
India entered the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup with wins in both their warm-up matches, having defeated South Africa in a thriller earlier. They finished the New Zealand series with a win as well, after losing the first four matches, to build a head of steam going into their tournament openers against Pakistan on Sunday.
Opting to bat first against Stafanie Taylor’s team, India posted 258 on the board thanks to a solid 66 from Mandhana, who had to retire hurt in the match against South Africa after a blow to the head. The ICC and BCCI had said on Monday that the star opener was doing alright, and she slotted back into the XI straight away and emerged with a half century, that saw a century-run partnership with Deepti Sharma (51) who again batted at No 3.
But having reached the half-way stage with 144/2 on board, India had a second half collapse to finish with 258 and at one stage were in danger of being bowled out much earlier. But late runs from Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad from made sure they batted a full quota. Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a century in the previous match, did not bat on the day.
With the ball, Jhulan Goswami and Meghna Singh bowled a tight first-10 from which West Indies never quite recovered. Even though the veteran pacer didn’t take a wicket she started off with figures of 3-2-1-0, and then the rest of the bowling unit chipped in. Pooja Vastarakar, who didn’t bat, picked up three wickets to make a case for her inclusion.
Mandhana showed she was back fit and firing with a 66 at the top of India’s innings.
Shafali Verma did not trouble the scorers after being brought into the batting line-up, going for a second-ball duck before Deepti Sharma made 51 in a 117-run stand with Mandhana - Cherry-Ann Fraser the only bowler who could get them out.
Mithali Raj and Yastika Bhatia were the other two batters to make it into the 30s, Bhatia dismissed for 42 from 53 triggering a collapse as India lost four wickets in four overs to fall to 237 for nine from 45.2 overs.
Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad provided some resistance until the final ball of the innings when Yadav was run out for 14 from 13 balls to leave India on 258.
The West Indies were slow in their response, as Jhulan Goswami and Meghna Singh both opened with maidens, Singh eventually dismissing Deandra Dottin for one from 15 balls.
Kycia Knight’s dismissal by Deepti Sharma reduced the Windies to 53 for four but Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle fought back with Matthews dismissed for 44.
Campbelle would continue to chip away at an almost impossible chase before she was bowled by Pooja Vastrakar for 63 runs from 81 balls as Vastrakar took three for 21.
Anisa Mohammed and Afy Fletcher made it to the end as the West Indies reached 117 for nine, 82 runs short of their target for their second defeat in two matches.
Devine put on a tremendous show at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval as she steered New Zealand to a chase of 322 to down Australia by nine wickets with 41 balls to spare.
Australia saw four players pass the fifty-run mark as they set New Zealand an imposing 322 to win, but ultimately it wasn’t to prove difficult at all, thanks to a magnificent 161 not out from Sophie Devine.
Alyssa Healy combined with Meg Lanning after Rachel Haynes was dismissed for two with Healy making 64 from 71 before being bowled by Amelia Kerr.
Lanning then put on an 80-run stand for the third wicket with Beth Mooney, as the skipper top-scored with 87 from 86 balls with Hannah Rowe taking a diving catch to dismiss her.
Rowe would then start taking wickets of her own, dismissing Tahlia McGrath for a duck before ending Ashleigh Gardner’s assault, but not before the all-rounder had smashed 60 runs from just 32 balls.
The right-arm seamer ended on four for 49 as Devine took the final wicket of Jess Jonassen to dismiss Australia for 321 with three balls remaining of the innings.
New Zealand were not daunted by a chase 42 runs more than they have ever managed in ODIs, instead Suzie Bates scored 63 from 68 balls before being caught by Grace Harris off the bowling of Alana King.
Then, Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr did what they do best, taking apart a bowling attack.
Devine was imperious as she passed one innings milestone after another on the way to 161 from 117 balls with 23 fours and four sixes.
Kerr played her part in a 206-run partnership with an unbeaten 92 as New Zealand knocked off the runs with 41 balls and nine wickets remaining.
Scores in brief
New Zealand beat Australia at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln by nine wickets
Australia 321 all out in 49.3 overs (Meg Lanning 87, Alyssa Healy 64; Hannah Rowe 4/49, Sophie Devine 2/44)
New Zealand 325/1 in 43.1 overs (Sophie Devine 161 not out, Amelia Kerr 92 not out; Alana King 1/48, Jess Jonassen 0/21)
India beat West Indies at Rangiora Oval, Rangiora by 81 runs
India 258 all out in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 66, Deepti Sharma 51; Cherry-Ann Fraser 2/24, Hayley Matthews 2/47)
West Indies 117/9 in 50 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 63, Hayley Matthews 44; Pooja Vastrakar 3/21, Meghna Singh 2/30)
With inputs from ICC Media Zone courtesy ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2020
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