IND W VS NZ W 3RD ODI

Right then, that is it from this game and this series as well where India Women maintain their good record against New Zealand Women. Now, the trophy has been handed over to the Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. She joins her team and they lift the trophy together before posing for some photos. The next assignment for India Women is a 3-match ODI series against Australia. The first game will be played on 5th December in Brisbane. As for New Zealand Women, they will host the Aussies in a three-match ODI series with the first game scheduled on 19th December, but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to every match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Deepti Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for her all-round brilliance. She says that she always smiles on the ground because it takes away the pressure and she enjoys the game. Adds that she had the belief in herself and the team after the second game. Tells that those games come once in a while but you have to come back stronger in all three departments which they did. Mentions that the wicket was skidding a bit, and she had to vary the pace and get in the mind of the batters. Ends by saying that the mindset will remain the same and they will prepare in the same way for the upcoming matches.

The victorious skipper of India Women, Harmanpreet Kaur says that as a team, they always try to give their 100 percent but sometimes results do not go your way. States that as a cricketer, it is important that you keep pushing yourself and be aware of what your role is for the team. Tells that they lost badly in the last game but they had the confidence to do well in this game and she is happy that they won the series. Appreciates Smriti Mandhana for her hundred and shares that the talk between them was to take the game deep. Mentions that fielding is one aspect that they want to keep improving and their aim is to be the best fielding side in the world.

Smriti Mandhana is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for scoring her 8TH ODI HUNDRED. In doing so, she went past the legend, Mithali Raj, and became the player with the most number of ODI tons for India Women. She says that she is really pleased to win the series. Adds that it has been a tough one and a half months for the team and the first couple of games didn't go her way but she is very happy for the team. Mentions that it was more about controlling her shots and maintaining the calm by not chasing the balls. Tells that she had to leave a few boundary balls in the first couple of overs, but it worked out in the end. Says that not being able to contribute for the team did not let her sleep, but as a cricketer, you will have highs and lows and the most important thing is to keep doing what you do best and work hard to get through that phase.

The captain of New Zealand Women, Sophie Devine says that she is incredibly proud of the group. Adds that they lost Melie Kerr to injury and had only 12 players to work with but still managed to push India to a decider speaks a lot about this team. Feels that they did not have enough runs on the board despite the fighting knock from Brooke Halliday. Further says that the ball slid on nicely onto the bat under lights due to the dew. Shares that they took a blueprint from the World Cup of attacking the stumps and lauds Fran Jonas and Eden Carson for the way they bowled. Tells that she is proud of the resilience shown by the team. Ends by saying that it is now time for them to go home and get a well-deserved rest before the next series.

Presentation Time...

Yastika Bhatia is in for a chat. She says that the pressure is always there when you play for the country. Shares that the plan was to keep wickets in hand and take the game as deep as possible. Mentions that the wicket did ease out during the second innings. Adds that the ball was turning in the first innings but in the second innings, there was not much turn. States that she put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes in terms of her keeping and she is happy that she got the results in this series.

Earlier in the game, New Zealand Women recovered from a troublesome situation to put up a fighting total on the board. Brooke Halliday led the charge with a fantastic 86 off 96 while there Georgia Plimmer contributed nicely at the top, Izzy Gaze in the middle, Lea Tahuhu finished with a flurry in the end. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for India with three wickets while Priya Mishra got a couple. Renuka Singh Thakur and Saima Thakor chipped in with one each. While chasing, the hosts brought their A-game in this decider and got the job done with more than 5 overs to spare.

New Zealand Women, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their bowling effort. They had the runs on the board but were very inconsistent with their line and lengths and were sloppy in the field as well which you don't see often. The pacers started well with Hannah Rowe getting the first breakthrough, but they failed to build on that. They were not helped with the dew factor which made their spinners ineffective giving the hosts the upper hand to take control of the game. They never really looked to trouble the batters and couldn't recover after two huge partnerships from the hosts. Sophie Devine did pick up a wicket, while Rowe ended up with two but that was all that they could do which was never really going to be enough.

After that, it was all about the experience and know-how of the two senior players of the hosts. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur came in and looked positive, keeping the scoreboard ticking while Smriti Mandhana kept going from the other end notching up a fine half-century as well. Kaur suffered from a bit of cramp but continued to punish the Kiwi bowlers bringing a fifty of her own. Together they added 117 runs which proved to be match-winning, and Mandhana also registered an excellent century. However, she could not stay till the end and got out when they needed under 40 runs. Jemimah Rodrigues played a quick cameo while fittingly Kaur remained unbeaten and finished the game.

India Women once again were rocked early with Shafali Verma being strangled down the leg side. However, Smriti Mandhana took a cautious approach leaving the balls outside off which had been her downfall in this series. She took her time to settle in finding the odd boundaries while getting good support from Yastika Bhatia from the other end. The duo took the game forward nicely without taking many risks and keeping up with the asking rate. Just as when things were looking comfortable, Bhatia was dismissed on 35 off 49 ending the 76-run partnership.

INDIA WOMEN SEAL THE SERIES 2-1! A chase masterclass from the Women in Blue led by a stunning hundred from Smriti Mandhana while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also played her part. A disappointing result for New Zealand Women as they not only lose this series but stay 6th in the Women's Championship table making their direct qualification to the 2025 ODI World Cup more difficult.

FOUR! There it is, Kaur with the winning runs! This is near the tramline on off, on a length from Devine, Harmanpreet Kaur is made to reach out. The bat turns in her hand but she still manages to pick the gap. Hits it all along the ground to the right of cover for a bounary to take her side over the line. India win by 6 wickets! Hugs and smiles all around in the Indan camp as they clinch the series!

Devine gets the yorker in, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur digs it out to cover.

Short and on off, Tejal Hasabnis stays back in her crease and pushes it to cover.

Darted in, full and around off, Tejal Hasabnis mistimes the drive to cover.

Another full delivery speared in from Jonas, full and on off, Tejal Hasabnis makes contact with the sweep and plays it along the ground but straight to square leg.