• New Zealand Women leveled the ODI series 1-1 with a 76-run win over India, powered by Sophie Devine's all-round performance.

  • Despite Radha Yadav's efforts with both bat and ball, India struggled in the chase.

Twitter reactions: New Zealand levels the ODI series with commanding victory over India
Twitter Reactions on New Zealand levels the series with commanding 76-Run victory over India

New Zealand Women have leveled the three-match ODI series 1-1 against India Women, securing a solid victory in the second ODI by 76 runs in Ahmedabad. The match saw stellar performances from both sides, with New Zealand’s captain Sophie Devine leading her team with both bat and ball to claim the Player of the Match award.

Dominant knock from Sophie Devine

Winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bat first and put up a competitive score of 259 for 9 in their 50 overs. Opener Suzie Bates set the tone with a composed 58 off 77 balls, hitting eight fours. Bates’ innings gave New Zealand a steady start despite India’s disciplined early bowling. Skipper Devine took charge following Bates’ dismissal, anchoring the innings with an impressive 79 off 86 balls. Devine’s innings, featuring seven boundaries and a towering six, provided the momentum New Zealand needed in the middle overs. Her ability to rotate the strike and maintain a brisk scoring rate put pressure on the Indian bowlers.

India’s Radha Yadav was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 69 runs in her full quota of 10 overs, consistently challenging the New Zealand batters. Deepti Sharma provided crucial support, with an economical spell of 2 for 30 from her 10 overs, helping to restrict the Kiwis as they aimed to accelerate in the death overs. However, despite these efforts, New Zealand’s top and middle-order contributions pushed the team to a strong total of 259.

India’s chase falters under New Zealand’s disciplined bowling 

In response, India Women struggled to maintain momentum and fell short, getting bowled out for 183 in 47.1 overs. Radha fought valiantly with the bat, scoring 48 off 64 balls, including five boundaries, as India’s lower order tried to hold on. However, regular wickets and disciplined New Zealand bowling kept the hosts under constant pressure. Devine again starred with the ball, taking three wickets for 27 runs in her 7.1 overs, showcasing her all-round prowess. Lea Tahuhu was equally effective, claiming 3 for 42 in her 10 overs and consistently troubling the Indian batters with her pace.

New Zealand’s convincing victory by 76 runs now brings the series to a thrilling 1-1 tie, with the final ODI set to be a decider.

Also WATCH: Radha Yadav takes a blinder to dismiss Brooke Halliday in 2nd ODI | INDW vs NZW

Here is how Twitter reacted:

Also WATCH: Deepti Sharma’s quick thinking results in a smart run-out of Sophie Devine | IND-W vs NZ-W

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Subscribe to Cricket Times on YouTube to watch Exclusive Interviews, Podcasts, Weekly News Updates & Explainers.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Women Cricket

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
Siddhartha is a Content Strategist at Cricket Times, holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His passion for cricket was ignited by India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup. Alongside his dedication to cricket, Siddhartha is an accomplished state-level table tennis player. With a longstanding ambition to become a sports journalist, he brings both academic expertise and a deep enthusiasm for the sport to his role. His admiration for AB de Villiers underscores his commitment to excellence in cricket journalism. You can write to him at siddhartha@crickettimes.com and follow him on Linkedin.