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After losing the first two ODIs against New Zealand women’s team, the Mithali Raj-led Indian women’s team were determined to win the third ODI of the five-match ODI series and bounce back convincingly.
But in reality, that did not happen as the visitors lost the third ODI match by 3 wickets. The third game of the five-match ODI series was played on February 18 (Friday), at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown.
Now Indian team will have to play the remaining two matches without any hope of clinching the ODI series.
The deciding moment
The thrilling match was decided in the final over of the match as the hosts needed 6 runs to win from 6 balls. India’s Deepti Sharma was bowling and New Zealand’s Lauren Down was on strike. But Down needed just one ball to seal the victory as she smashed a six off the first ball to secure a 3-wicket victory.
Earlier, batting first, Indian team started the match on a positive note after their opening batters- Sabbhineni Meghana (61 runs off 41 balls) and Shafali Verma (51 runs off 57 balls), registered a solid partnership of 100 runs.
Their opening partnership was broken after New Zealand bowler Rosemary Mair dismissed Meghana in the 13th over of the innings. Later, Deepti Sharma scored 69 runs (not out) to help her side in reaching a total of 279 runs.
A dismal batting order collapse saw the Indian team lose their last five batters within a span of just 68 runs. For New Zealand, their bowlers- Hannah Rowe and Rosemary Mair picked up two wickets each.
The run-chase
In reply, India's Jhulan Goswami started the bowling on a positive note after she dismissed both the New Zealand openers- Suzie Bates (5) and skipper Sophie Davine (0), within the first three overs.
But later, Amelia Kerr (67 runs off 80 balls) and Amy Satterthwaite (59 runs off 76 deliveries) notched a solid partnership to avert the initial danger caused by the Indian bowling attack. But Goswami again appeared to be a key figure after she claimed her third wicket of the match by scalping the vital wicket of Satterthwaite.
But the visitors could not make full use of this breakthrough as New Zealand batters- Down (64 not out off 52 balls) and wicketkeeper Katey Martin (35 runs off 37 balls) scored a terrific partnersihp of 76 runs off 69 balls to help their side in recovering from 171/6 to 247/7.
Eventually, New Zealand team secured the victory losing 7 wickets and with 5 balls remaining.
