1st Women’s ODI: All-round India thumps New Zealand

Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues hammer the Kiwi bowling after India’s spinners restrict New Zealand to 192.

Authoritative display: Jemimah Rodrigues en route to her unbeaten 81 in Napier.

With a 190-run first-wicket partnership, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues helped steer India to a nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first One-Day International of a three-match series here on Thursday.

Mandhana (105, 104b, 9X4, 3X6) and Rodrigues (81, 94b, 9X4) hammered the Kiwi bowling after India’s bowlers bundled the home team out for 192. India reached its target in 33 overs. For Rodrigues, it was her maiden half-century, and for Mandhana, her fourth century in the format.

The partnership was the highest for the first wicket by any team against New Zealand.

‘Great start’

“I think it’s [a] great to start the series with a win and [it’s] wonderful to see openers get an over 100-run partnership. I think [a] 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,” India captain Mithali Raj said at the post-match presentation. “But easy catches should have been taken. We are definitely not overconfident,” she added.

“The wicket was great to bat on. We played according to the merit of the balls and it was a great innings,” she commented.

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An overcast sky meant the teams did not face the glaring sun that halted play for nearly half an hour in the men’s contest on Wednesday.

Spinners shine

Earlier, put in to bat, New Zealand let slip a good start and crumbled against two of India’s spinners — Poonam Yadav and Ekta Bisht. The spinners snared three wickets each to put India on top.

Yadav ripped through the White Ferns’ middle order, dismissing skipper Amy Satterthwaite (31), Lauren Down (0) and Amelia Kerr (28).

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This was after Susie Bates (38) and Sophie Devine (28) gave New Zealand a solid start.

Devine’s run-out by Deepti Sharma triggered a collapse and New Zealand folded in 48.4 overs. Bates’ knock (38, 54b, 2X4) was the best any home batsman could manage.

The second ODI will be played in Mount Maunganui on January 29.