India will seek a better performance from batters in its quest to seal the series when it faces New Zealand in the second women’s ODI here on Sunday.
Even though India won the first match comfortably by 59 runs, batters squandered starts as the innings was littered with multiple 30s and 40s.
The hosts would want a change of script in this match, and skipper Smirti Mandhana will have to lead the charge, which was done by debutant Tejal Hasabnis in the last match.
The elegant left-hander got out for eight in the opening match, continuing her lean run over the last month or so.
She can fall back upon the memories of a fine run against South Africa earlier this July when she cracked runs for fun, including two big hundreds.
Along with Mandhana’s form, the Indian camp will also keep an eye on the fitness of regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the previous match with an unspecified niggle.
On the bowling front, India will be delighted with debutant pacer Saima Thakor’s impressive performance the other night, along with left-arm spinner Radha Yadav’s return to wicket-taking form in this format.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s ambition to square the series received a severe blow as talismanic all-rounder Amelie Kerr was ruled out of the series with a left quadricep muscle tear that she sustained in the first match.
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Kerr, who will return home on Sunday, will require approximately three weeks to recover from her Grade One injury.
“We’re really gutted for Melie,” said White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer.
“We know how disappointed she is to not be able to play these games. Everyone knows how much of an integral part of this team Melie is so we’ll certainly miss her but we’re wishing her a speedy recovery,” said Sawyer.
Kerr was the standout performer for New Zealand in the first ODI with a four-wicket haul.
She will not be replaced in the squad with the final game of the series to be played in three days’ time.
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