ODI Women's Cricket: Devine's all-round performance leads New Zealand to series-levelling victory against India

Captain Sophie Devine led from the front with a solid innings of 79 off 86 balls, including seven fours and a six, to build a crucial partnership of 82 runs with Maddy Green (42 off 41 balls) for the fifth wicket. This helped New Zealand reach a challenging total of 259 for nine. Devine also impressed with the ball, taking 3/27, as the New Zealand bowlers combined to dismiss India for 183. Lea Tahuhu (3/42), Jess Kerr (2/49), and Eden Carson (2/32) also played important roles by taking key wickets throughout the match.

Giving the visitors an excellent start were openers Suzie Bates (58 off 70 balls) and Georgia Plimmer (41 off 50), adding 87 runs in just under 16 overs. They lost three wickets in quick succession but Devine resurrected the innings with Green, who struck five fours. India’s bowling was largely expensive, with left-arm spinner Yadav the most successful with four wickets but conceding 69 runs in her 10 overs.

India were never really in the chase, given they were 26/3 within the first five overs. Smriti Mandhana lasted two balls before spooning Tahuhu at point for a soft dismissal. Shafali Verma was dismissed in the fourth over, trapped leg before by Jess’s angled-in delivery. Eight balls later, Yastika Bhatia was undone by a full and wide delivery from Tahuhu, edging to the wicketkeeper.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, returning after missing the first ODI due to a minor injury, scored 24 as she partnered with Jemimah Rodrigues (17) to add 38 runs before both were dismissed in the space of four overs. Once Tejal Hasabnis (15) and Deepti Sharma (15) were dismissed, the writing was pretty much on the wall.

“We kept losing wickets in the chase,” Kaur said after the match. “We will look to build partnerships in the next game. We weren’t up to the mark.” The third WODI is on Tuesday.