1st ODI: Mithali Raj fifty in vain as India women lose series opener to New Zealand
India Today
India women vs New Zealand: Mithali Raj hit a brisk fifty but India were not able to successfully chase 276 in the first ODI of a 5-match series against New Zealand women on Saturday.
India women began their preparation for the 2023 World Cup with a 62-run defeat in the first of a 5-match series at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown. India were bowled out for 213 runs in their chase of 276 against the White Ferns in the ODI series opener.
Captain MithalI Raj, who will likely play her final World Cup next month, led the show from the front with a brisk 59 but lack of support from the top-order and the lower-middle order saw India fall short of the target. Much was said about Mithali's strike rate but with 6 boundaries, Raj kept moving the scoreboard nicely for her 73-ball 59.
However, she was undone by Jess Kerr as early as the 31st over following which there was not much fight from the Indian batting unit.
In the absence of Smriti Mandhana, Sabbhineni Meghana opened the batting with Shafali Verma but both the openers failed early, leaving India reeling at 17/2.
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Yastika Bhatia (41) and Mithali stiched a 88-run stand for the 3rd wicket but Mithali's wicket led to India's downfall in the first ODI.
Jess Kerr, who shone in the lone T20I earlier this week, picked up 4 wickets, conceding just 35 runs.
