Smriti Mandhana smashed a 24-ball half-century, fastest by an Indian woman, in the first T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Wednesday. But, India women lost the three-match series opener by 23 runs at the Westpac Stadium.
Later at the same venue, the men’s team also suffered a loss in the first T20I, an embarrassing 80-run defeat to go down 0-1 in the three-match series.
After Men in Blue’s match, Smirti Mandhana, the World no. 1 batter in women’s cricket, featured on Chahal TV, a chat show hosted by Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
Mandhana hilariously thanked Chahal for inspiring her with his fearless batting in the fourth ODI against the Blackcaps in Hamilton.
“I was so inspired after looking at your batting in the 4th ODI that I told myself that I need to develop my game. You are my batting inspiration,” the left-handed batswoman said while trying to control her laughter. In his reply, Yuzi said, “She has chosen the perfect batsman to improve her batting.”
World No 1 batter makes her debut on Chahal TV@mandhana_smriti has been taking her batting inspiration from this leg spinner 😂😂. Find out who it is in this fun segment of @yuzi_chahal TV – by @RajalArora
Full video 📽️📽️https://t.co/ND9xz7OUgR #ChahalTV pic.twitter.com/fLHBysiltm
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 7, 2019
Chahal top-scored for India in the Hamilton ODI – 18 (not-out). He struck three boundaries in his 37-ball knock.
After being put in to bat, India were bowled out for mere 92 runs in 30.5 overs with seven of their batsmen dismissed for a single digit score.
New Zealand chased down the target in 14.4 overs with eight wickets in hand. However, India won the fifth and final ODI by 35 runs in Wellington to clinch the five-match ODI series 4-1.
