In a thrilling start to the India-New Zealand women’s ODI series, Team India clinched a comfortable 59-run victory over New Zealand, largely thanks to Deepti Sharma’s quick thinking, which led to Kiwi captain Sophie Devine’s careless dismissal. The match took place on October 24, 2024, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, just days after New Zealand’s successful T20 World Cup campaign. However, the Kiwis were unable to maintain their winning momentum as they faltered against India’s disciplined bowling.
Devine’s Careless Run Out
Sophie Devine’s wicket came in an unexpected and avoidable manner. In the 12th over of New Zealand’s innings, Indian spinner Deepti Sharma was bowling, and Devine defended the last ball of the over. However, she hesitated while retreating to her crease. Deepti Sharma acted swiftly, picked up the ball, and made a sharp throw to the wicketkeeper, who took the bails off in a flash. Devine’s slow reaction proved costly, as she failed to make it back in time, getting run out for just 2 runs.
This run-out was a turning point, and Devine’s careless approach handed India a key wicket early in the innings. The warning “Caution removed, accident occurred” applied all too well to this situation, as Devine’s lapse in focus hurt New Zealand’s chances in the match.
India’s Batting Struggles but Posts a Defendable Target
Earlier in the day, India, led by stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana, struggled with the bat. The Indian team was without regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and Mandhana, one of India’s star batters, could only score 5 runs. Shefali Verma (33) and Yastika Bhatia (37) tried to build a platform, but neither could turn their starts into big scores.
Jemimah Rodrigues (35), Deepti Sharma (41), and debutant Tejal Hasanbiss (42) contributed vital runs in the middle order, but no Indian batter could dominate the Kiwi bowlers. Despite these challenges, India managed to post a competitive total of 228, largely due to their ability to keep the scoreboard ticking through the middle overs.
New Zealand’s star bowler Amelia Kerr, fresh off a stellar performance in the T20 World Cup, was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 wickets. Her performance kept India’s batters under pressure, but the target of 228 still gave the Indian bowlers something to defend.
New Zealand’s Batting Collapse
In response to India’s 228, New Zealand struggled from the very start. Opener Georgia Plimmer looked promising with a quick 25, but she was dismissed before she could build a bigger innings. Devine’s careless run-out only worsened New Zealand’s troubles, as they were quickly reduced to 46 for 3.
Brook Halliday (39) and Maddy Green (31) fought back with a solid 49-run partnership, raising hopes of a comeback. However, both players were dismissed in quick succession, leaving New Zealand’s lower order with too much to do. At 128 for 5, the game was firmly in India’s grasp.
Amelia Kerr once again tried to steady the ship with a few runs, but New Zealand’s batting lineup couldn’t handle the pressure. They were bowled out for just 168 runs in 40.4 overs, falling 59 runs short of the target. For India, Radha Yadav was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets, while debutant Saima Thakor impressed with 2 wickets.
India’s Strong Start to the Series
This win gave India a 1-0 lead in the ODI series and came as a confidence boost after their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. Deepti Sharma’s all-round performance, including her smart run-out of Sophie Devine and her vital 41 runs with the bat, played a crucial role in India’s victory.
New Zealand, on the other hand, seemed to struggle with fatigue after their World Cup triumph, and their batting never really got going against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. They will need to regroup quickly if they hope to level the series in the next match.
Key Stats from the Match:
- India: 228 in 50 overs (Deepti Sharma 41, Tejal Hasanbiss 42; Amelia Kerr 4/45)
- New Zealand: 168 in 40.4 overs (Brook Halliday 39, Maddy Green 31; Radha Yadav 3/32, Saima Thakor 2/40)
- Result: India won by 59 runs.
