NZW vs INDW, 3rd T20I - Smriti Mandhana Shines But Hosts Blank India Eves in Hamilton
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 10: The White Ferns celebrate after winning the Women's International T20 Game 3 between New Zealand and India at Seddon Park on February 10, 2019 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The New Zealand women’s cricket team blanked India eves in the T20Is by winning the final match in Hamilton by two runs. Though opener, Smriti Mandhana scored a fighting 86 off 62 balls; the visitors fell short of the target (162) even with six wickets in hand. In the three-match T20Is, Smriti also ended up being the highest run-scorer with 180 runs. Second to her is hosts’ opener, Sophie Devine, who hit 153 runs. Meanwhile, the side led by star batswoman, Harmanpreet Kaur lost the first match by 23 runs before surrendering the series in Auckland; where India eves lost the T20I by four wickets.

NZ Women claims T20Is after ODI series loss

The Indian Women’s Cricket Team won the ODI series 2-1 but didn’t follow the script in the T20Is. In the last match of the series at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, the White Ferns batted first after winning the toss. Their opener, Sophie Devine continued her good form. Accompanying Suzie Bates at the top of the order, Devine scored 72 off 52 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes. Even in the first T20I, she scored 62 runs.

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Sophie Devine
Sophie Devine scored her second fifty of the India T20Is. Image Courtesy: Getty

Later, their captain, Amy Satterthwaite collected 31 runs; the team’s second-highest run-scorer helped the hosts put 161 on the board for the loss of seven wickets. For India eves, Deepti Sharma took two wickets while others bagged apiece.

Mandhana’s efforts in vain

Coming to India’s batting, they lost opener, Priya Punia in the third over. Mandhana, who has been excellent touch with the bat held one end. Though she was the one to up the run-rate, the left-handed batswoman did run out of people on the other end. As a result, she couldn’t build big partnerships, thus leaving on the shoulders of players to follow to complete the job.

NZW vs INDW, 3rd T20I, Hamilton, Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana scored 82 runs in the final T20I. Image Courtesy: Getty

Mithali Raj, the veteran player who got included in the XI for the final clash, didn’t have the best of outings. Aligning with Deepti Sharma in the end, Mithali failed to get a consolation win for the India eves. In the end, the visitors lost the match by two runs.

Brief Score –

NZW – 161/7, INDW – 159/4

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