Women's World Cup: India look to build winning run, face stiff test vs New Zealand

Women's World Cup 2022: India began their campaign by hammering Pakistan but Mithali Raj's side face a stiff test when they take on hosts New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday.

India will look to build a winning run at the ICC Women's World Cup 2022 when they face hosts New Zealand in their second match of the tournament at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday, March 10.

India are heading into the contest on the back of a dominant victory over Pakistan in their tournament opener. India overcame an ordinary top-order batting display to outclass Pakistan women on Sunday but a stiff test awaits them as the White Ferns will be keen on avoiding any more slip-ups after their tournament-opening defeat to the West Indies.

The pitch at Hamilton's Seddon Park has been traditionally known as a batting belter and Mithali Raj and her team would like to put up a better show against Sophie Devine's side, who hammered India 4-1 in a recently-concluded ODI series in New Zealand.

India managed to win the final ODI, a dead rubber against New Zealand, and stitch a 4-match winning run but they were comprehensively outplayed by the White Ferns in the first 5 matches, including a one-off T20i, on their tour.

In fact, the Indians have already learnt a harsh lesson in the preceding ODI series where they couldn't even defend totals of 270 and 280.

India will be hoping opener Shafali Verma returns to form as the top-order has lacked firepower despite Smriti Mandhana getting a move on in the recent past. In the last seven games, including one practice match, there was only one fifty and six low scores from her.

"Shafali has already proved herself. She is a very exciting cricketer. But these things happen with every cricketer," senor pacer Jhulan Goswami said on the eve of the game against New Zealand.