India's star opener Smriti Mandhana completed her quarantine and left for Queenstown to join the Women in Blue for the rest of the three ODI matches against New Zealand.
Mandhana took to Instagram on Tuesday (February 15) to make this announcement. SheMandhana had missed the one-off T20 International and the two ODIs against New Zealand as she was in extended Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) along with two other players - pacers Meghna Singh and Renuka Singh.
Renuka is already out of quarantine while Meghna also came out of MIQ on Tuesday (February 15). However, both Mandhana and Meghna may not be available for the third ODI here on Friday on fitness grounds as they have been in quarantine for long.
"Finally out of quarantine!! Can't wait to get back with the team," the 25-year-old Mandhana wrote on her Instagram handle, along with a picture of her with her luggage.
In her absence, India had lost the one-off T20 International and the first two ODIs.
Earlier, after the one-off T20I, batter Yastika Bhatia had informed about the stay in (Mandotory Isolation in Quarantine facility) MIQ of Mandhana, Meghana Singh and Renuka Singh.
The Indian team had undergone a 10-day MIQ in Christchurch after its arrival in New Zealand. The team had undergone a week of hard quarantine in Mumbai before its departure on January 24.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Amelia Kerr walloped a sensational century to hand Mithali-led India thier back to back defeat in second ODI of the five-match series which was played on Tuesday. While chasing India's competitive target of 271, Amelia led from the front with her rocking 119 off 135 to cruise Black Caps to a three-wicket victory with six balls to spare. Deepti Sharma launched a fightback with an impressive spell of 4/52 but failed to save India from blushes as New Zealand are now 2-0 ahead in the ODI series.
Maddy Green also played an instrumental role in Kiwis' victory with a sedate knock of 52 of 61 while no other batter really clicked for them.
For India, coming in at number four, Mithali Raj put her head down and crafted an unbeaten 66 off 81 balls.
This was her second half-century in the series, having registered one in the first ODI on February 12. Raj’s innings of 66 helped India post a challenging score of 270/6 in 50 overs, which is team India’s highest total against New Zealand in women’s ODIs. India’s previous best against the White Ferns was 265/7 in 2017 at Derby.
Mithali Raj stitched a 108-run partnership with Richa Ghosh (65 off 64) for the fourth wicket, which is the first ever hundred-run partnership by an Indian pair for fourth or lower wickets in women’s international cricket in New Zealand. This partnership of 108 runs is the joint highest fourth wicket partnership for India in women’s ODIs.
Sabbhineni Meghana also made a significant contribution with a 50-ball 49 which was studded with seven fours to stitch 61 runs for the opening wicket with Shafali Varma (24), who, however, failed to convert a good start yet again.
Yastika Bhatia, who had made 41 in the first match, contributed 31 from 38 balls this time as the Indian top-order, except for vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, gave a good account of itself.
Kaur continued her woeful form as she could only score 10 runs off 18 balls, the same score as in the first match.
For New Zealand, Sophie Devine was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets for 42 runs.
