It took a record-breaking chase led by star captain Mithali Raj, but India has forced the New Zealand WHITE FERNS into a decider on Wednesday in their five-match ODI Series in Bengaluru, India.
Asked to find 222 runs after the WHITE FERNS had enjoyed the luxury of batting first, Indian star Raj top-scored for her team with an 88-ball 81 as India strung together solid partnerships to achieve its highest ever chase at home — thundering to a stylish eight-wicket win that was completed with 34 balls to spare.
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The remarkable about-face after their patchy series with the bat was not only India’s highest run chase at home, but second highest anywhere — bettered only by their 230/5 at Lord’s in 2012, Raj in the process becoming only the second woman in One-Day International cricket history to post 5000 career runs.
Indian captain Mithali Raj stood up to the challenge. Photosport.nz
For the Ferns it was a nightmarish end to a dream beginning in which they had become the first side in the contest to put 200 runs on the board, on a turning deck that had previously been used for the second match of the Series.
After having lost eight One-Day International tosses in a row, captain Suzie Bates had been delighted to win the toss and jumped at an opportunity to bat first, putting on 62 for the second wicket with Amy Satterthwaite after fellow opener Rachel Priest had edged a good length delivery from strike bowler Jhulan Goswami to slip in the third over.
The Ferns were 67/2 at drinks after Bates had been well caught at point, while Satterthwaite (43 off 55) had looked in dangerous touch from the start until she was bowled looking to sweep a quicker, flatter delivery from Harmanpreet Kaur, her exit in the 19th over making way for Sophie Devine at the top of her game.
Sophie Devine's strong form continued. Photosport.nz
The impressive Devine once again glued the Ferns’ innings together, posting the Ferns' 100 early in her innings with her first six off Poonam Yadav, in the 24th over, before slamming a boundary next ball en route to powering to her fifth ODI half-century, off 76 balls.
The vice-captain had seemed destined to reach her second career century, but clumps of wickets conspired against her at the death. At 156/4 in the 39th over, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3-25 off 10) had thrown a bag of marbles under the New Zealanders’ feet by bowling both Katie Perkins and Leigh Kasperek in the space of four balls for a double wicket maiden.
Anna Peterson pelted her for a six over cow corner to get off the mark, but it would ultimately prove another short-lived partnership when Peterson was trapped on 14 by medium pacer Nagarajan Niranjana (3-35) in the 46th over, who then bowled Lea Tahuhu for no score two balls later.
Devine had hardly seemed rattled by the disruption, advancing down the wicket to slam her second six over long on off Poonam Yadav, then posting the WHITE FERNS’ 200 with a boundary off Sharma in the 47th. With only two wickets in hand, the onus was all on Devine to maximise the strike and she charged at the 48th over, hitting a good length delivery on off stump from Niranjana over deep midwicket for six.
But a wicket maiden in the penultimate over doused hopes of a Devine hundred, Kaur removing Morna Nielsen while Georgia Guy couldn’t get herself off strike — leaving Devine frustrated at the non-striker's, sitting on 83.
Devine found another six runs in the last over before she was bowled on the second-to-last ball of the innings, her fine 89 having come off 102 balls, including 10 boundaries and three sixes.
After India’s scratchy turns at bat in the previous matches, the halftime money was on the Ferns to bring home a maiden ODI Series win in India with a game to spare, but India batted with spectacular resolve just as the Ferns let their bowling game slip.
Thirush Kamini (above) put on 49 with Mandhana for the first wicket before offering up a dolly to Maddy Green in the 15th over, Satterthwaite picking up the wicket with her fifth ball. But the joy of the breakthrough for the Ferns would be short-lived. The slight 18-year-old Smriti Mandhana found her third half-century off 75 balls, while Mithali Raj powered up to her imperious best, gathering momentum the longer she batted and clipping her 5000th ODI career run with a single to point off Morna Nielsen in the 33rd over.
By the time Peterson had Mandhana (66) caught in the 38th over, India was back in control of its own destiny, requiring just a further 48 runs with eight wickets in hand. Unbeaten, Raj and Kaur (32* off 25) left nothing to chance, Kaur taking the five-match Series to a decider this Wednesday with a lofted six off Leigh Kasperek to end the chase in the 45th over and level the Series 2-2.
The fifth and deciding ODI is at the same venue, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, on Wednesday, 8 July, and will be televised by SKY from 3.20pm NZT.
