Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues guide India to opening win against Kiwis

01/24/2019

Smriti Mandhana recorded a brilliant century while youngster Jemimah Rodrigues also scored big as the Indian women’s cricket team won their series opening ODI against New Zealand on Thursday. India beat the hosts’ by nine wickets after the latter were initially bowled out for a paltry 192.

The Indian women’s cricket team replicated the performance of the Men’s team as they wreaked havoc against hosts’ New Zealand in the ODI series opener on Thursday. Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav both bagged three wickets each as they reduced the Kiwis to a measly 192 after 49 overs in the first innings.

After that, Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues displayed some beautiful batting to lead India to a thrilling nine-wicket win in the series opener in Kiwiland. While Mandhana recorded her fourth ODI century scoring 105 off 104 balls, Jemimah scored 81 to guide India to a deserving win.

"I think it's great to start the series with a win and wonderful to see openers get an over 100-run partnership. I think lot of girls do look up to Mandhana. She had a great 2018 and she is continuing and it gives a lot of confidence to the dressing room.

"But easy catches should have been taken though. We are definitely not overconfident," India captain Mithali Raj said in the post-match presentation.

Mandhana and Rodrigues put together the highest ever opening wicket stand against New Zealand — a 190-run partnership that stood for 32.2 overs. While youngster Rodrigues was making just her fifth appearance for the senior limited-overs team, Mandhana was recently named as the ICC women's cricketer of the year.

After India opted to bowl first, New Zealand got off to a good start but crumbled in the face of India's relentless spin combination of Poonam Yadav and Ekta Bisht. Both Bisht and Yadav snared three wickets each to put the visiting side in control of the game in the first innings itself.

The next match of the series will be played in Mount Maunganui on 29 January.