Smriti Mandhana hands Player of the Match: The Indian opening batswoman was generous enough to give away her award to the bowlers.
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During the second ODI of the ongoing India Women’s tour of New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, India defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets to go 2-0 up in the series. Having won the first ODI by 9 wickets, India continued to dominate the hosts with their comprehensive performance.
India captain Mithali Raj’s decision to put New Zealand in to bat yielded fruits as the Indian bowlers bundled out New Zealand for 161 in 44.2 overs. New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite, who came in to bat at No. 4, remained her team’s top-scorer scoring 71 (87) with the help of nine fours.
Player of the Match – Smriti Mandhana! 👏
No surprises there. She starred with an unbeaten 83-ball 90, which comprised 13 fours and a six.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/5cYNoXCFVw
— ICC (@ICC) January 29, 2019
Since 1 Aug 2017.. in Women’s ODI
Leading run-getters
864 – Smriti Mandhana (Ind) (ave 78.54)
735 – Sophie Devine (NZ) (73.50)
565 – Lizelle Lee (SAf) (47.08)
558 – Tammy Beaumont (Eng) (50.72)
547 – Suzie Bates (NZ) (49.72)
500 – Dane van Niekerk (SAf) (55.55)— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 29, 2019
With bowling figures of 8.2-2-23-3, veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami was the pick of the Indian bowlers. Much like the men’s team, India deceived the opposition on the back of stellar performances from their bowlers. Apart from Goswami, left-arm bowler Ekta Bisht, leg-spinner Poonam Yadav and off-spinner Deepti Sharma chipped in with a couple of wickets each.
The Indian women chased the 162-run target with no issue at all. India did lose Jeminah Rodrigues (0) and Sharma (8) cheaply, but it was a 151-run partnership for the third wicket between Smriti Mandhana and Raj which saw India seal the chase in the 36th over.
Another cracker from @mandhana_smriti. But good to see the old guard of @JhulanG10 and @M_Raj03 winning games for India. And how good was Ekta Bisht (2-14 from 8 overs). The women matching the men in New Zealand.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 29, 2019
Brilliant from @BCCIWomen after a stellar bowling effort led by @JhulanG10 @mandhana_smriti and @M_Raj03 finished it in style. 2-0.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 29, 2019
Mandhana, who had scored her fourth ODI century in the first ODI, once against top-scored for India. While she scored 90* (83) with the help of 13 fours and a six, Raj ended up scoring 63* (118) with the help of four fours and two sixes.
Despite the Indian players’ excellent performance, the highlight of the match happened during the presentation ceremony when Mandhana decided to hand her ‘Player of the Match’ award to the bowlers for she believed that they deserved it for bowling out the opposition cheaply.
“I will be giving this award to all the bowlers in the team. They deserve it for bowling New Zealand Women out for 161 on such a track,” Mandhawan was quoted as saying during the presentation ceremony.
