Ahmedabad
India aims for a stronger batting performance in the second women’s ODI against New Zealand toady (Sunday) as they look to seal the series. Despite winning the first match by 59 runs, the Indian batters struggled to convert starts, with several players scoring in the 30s and 40s.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana will be expected to lead the charge, especially after her early dismissal for eight runs in the first match. Mandhana, who has had a lean patch recently, will hope to draw on her brilliant form from earlier this year against South Africa.
India will also monitor the fitness of regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the opening match due to a minor injury. On the bowling front, India was pleased with debutant pacer Saima Thakor’s strong performance, along with left-arm spinner Radha Yadav’s return to form.
New Zealand, however, faces a setback with star all-rounder Amelia Kerr ruled out of the series due to a quadriceps muscle tear. Kerr, who took four wickets in the first ODI, will return home and require about three weeks to recover. Head coach Ben Sawyer expressed disappointment over her absence but wished her a speedy recovery. India leads the three-match series 1-0, with the final game set for three days after today’s (Sunday) clash.
BOX
Teams
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and others.
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, and others.
