India defeated New Zealand by 59 runs in the first ODI in Ahmedabad, thanks to an all-around performance from Deepti Sharma (1-35 and 41) and Radha Yadav’s 3 for 35. 

New Zealand’s best individual score was just 39, and they lost three batsmen to run-outs despite the Kerr sisters taking seven Indian wickets (4 for 42 for Amelia Kerr and 3 for 49 for Jess Kerr).

India got off to a slow start after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. As she practiced catching backward point, Smriti Mandhana, who replaced Harmanpreet Kaur as captain because of a niggle, was cheaply removed for five off Jess. 

However, after Shafali Verma took Jess for 17 runs in the fifth over, new batsman Yastika Bhatia began to target the New Zealand spinners. However, she hauled Eden Carson straight to the backward square after playing one shot too many.

Following the PowerPlay, Dayalan Hemalatha and the composed Bhatia both fell, making India more difficult. However, a 61-run partnership between rookie Tejal Hasabnis and Jemimah Rodrigues stabilized the ship. 

The two hitters kept the scoreboard moving so they wouldn’t get stuck at one end, even if their cooperation lacked bounds. After that, Hasabnis was stumped off Amelia, and Rodrigues was trapped LBW. BPExch was a popular choice among people who were following the match.

Then, to keep the scoreboard moving, Deepti decided to bat with the tail and drive India over the 200-run threshold. She took one and two, as well as the odd boundary. New Zealand took the straight overs. 

After keeping her company, Arundhati Reddy was caught deep mid-wicket off Amelia, and in the following over, Radha Yadav was bowled out by her sister Jess. When Deepti was stumped on 41, and Saima Thakor fell for two, the innings ended abruptly at 227 all-out.

At the beginning of their innings, New Zealand did little better than India, as veteran Suzie Bates was bowled cheaply for a single off rookie Thakor. 

Georgia Plimmer, her partner, started to raid the runs after having an incredible T20 World Cup earlier this month. She hit a few before hitting three boundaries in a 12-run over off Thakor to get her eye in.

In the PowerPlay, Deepti was brought in to bowl, and the hosts were successful. Plimmer’s bowling offspinner came close to catching her, but it missed. However, she was caught by the bowler on the following delivery, so her luck ran out. 

Then, skipper Sophie Devine was bizarrely run out. The visitors were 46 for three as the bowler quickly threw the ball to Yastika, who grabbed the bails with Devine’s foot on the line after she had defended a ball out of her crease.

Before the former was caught at mid-off, Lauren Down and Brooke Halliday had a brief partnership. A 49-run partnership between Halliday and Maddy Green threatened to Cost India the match. 

However, a significant blow to the tourists came when Thakor bowled Halliday off her bowling, and Green was run out a few balls later. As India tightened its grip, Jess, too, returned to the sheds for three.

Amelia Kerr eventually came out to bat at nine and threatened to go deep to give New Zealand a chance. Radha cleaned up Molly Penfold after Isabella Gaze had escaped too long. Then, as India won by 59 runs, Carson became the third hitter to be run out.

To read more blog: Discover the Best of Cricket with HowzatPlay

Brief Scores: New Zealand 169 all-out in 40.4 overs (Brooke Halliday 39, Maddy Green 31; Radha Yadav 3-35, Saima Thakor 2-26) lost to India 227 all-out in 44.3 overs (Tejal Hasabnis 42, Deepti Sharma 41; Jess Kerr 4-42, Amelia Kerr 3-49) by 59 runs.