Dubai, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):Sophie Devine put on a tremendous show at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval as she steered New Zealand to a chase of 322 to down Australia by nine wickets with 41 balls to spare.
Meanwhile, over in Rangiora, the West Indies never got going in pursuit of India’s 258 as the Women in Blue went undefeated in the warm-up games with an 81-run win.
Devine earns New Zealand comprehensive win over Australia
Australia saw four players pass the fifty-run mark as they set New Zealand an imposing 322 to win, but ultimately it wasn’t to prove difficult at all, thanks to a magnificent 161 not out from Sophie Devine.
Alyssa Healy combined with Meg Lanning after Rachel Haynes was dismissed for two with Healy making 64 from 71 before being bowled by Amelia Kerr.
Lanning then put on an 80-run stand for the third wicket with Beth Mooney, as the skipper top-scored with 87 from 86 balls with Hannah Rowe taking a diving catch to dismiss her.
Rowe would then start taking wickets of her own, dismissing Tahlia McGrath for a duck before ending Ashleigh Gardner’s assault, but not before the all-rounder had smashed 60 runs from just 32 balls.
The right-arm seamer ended on four for 49 as Devine took the final wicket of Jess Jonassen to dismiss Australia for 321 with three balls remaining of the innings.
New Zealand were not daunted by a chase 42 runs more than they have ever managed in ODIs, instead Suzie Bates scored 63 from 68 balls before being caught by Grace Harris off the bowling of Alana King.
Then, Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr did what they do best, taking apart a bowling attack.
Devine was imperious as she passed one innings milestone after another on the way to 161 from 117 balls with 23 fours and four sixes.
Kerr played her part in a 206-run partnership with an unbeaten 92 as New Zealand knocked off the runs with 41 balls and nine wickets remaining.
India too good for the stuttering West Indies
Smriti Mandhana showed she was back fit and firing with a 66 at the top of India’s innings after having to retire hurt with a head injury in India’s win over South Africa.
Shafali Verma did not trouble the scorers after being brought into the batting line-up, going for a second-ball duck before Deepti Sharma made 51 in a 117-run stand with Mandhana – Cherry-Ann Fraser the only bowler who could get them out.
Mithali Raj and Yastika Bhatia were the other two batters to make it into the 30s, Bhatia dismissed for 42 from 53 triggering a collapse as India lost four wickets in four overs to fall to 237 for nine from 45.2 overs.
Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad provided some resistance until the final ball of the innings when Yadav was run out for 14 from 13 balls to leave India on 258.
The West Indies were slow in their response, as Jhulan Goswami and Meghna Singh both opened with maidens, Singh eventually dismissing Deandra Dottin for one from 15 balls.
Kycia Knight’s dismissal by Deepti Sharma reduced the Windies to 53 for four but Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle fought back with Matthews dismissed for 44.
Campbelle would continue to chip away at an almost impossible chase before she was bowled by Pooja Vastrakar for 63 runs from 81 balls as Vastrakar took three for 21.
Anisa Mohammed and Afy Fletcher made it to the end as the West Indies reached 117 for nine, 82 runs short of their target for their second defeat in two matches.
Scores in brief
New Zealand beat Australia at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln by nine wickets
Australia 321 all out in 49.3 overs (Meg Lanning 87, Alyssa Healy 64; Hannah Rowe 4/49, Sophie Devine 2/44)
New Zealand 325/1 in 43.1 overs (Sophie Devine 161 not out, Amelia Kerr 92 not out; Alana King 1/48, Jess Jonassen 0/21)
India beat West Indies at Rangiora Oval, Rangiora by 81 runs
India 258 all out in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 66, Deepti Sharma 51; Cherry-Ann Fraser 2/24, Hayley Matthews 2/47)
West Indies 117/9 in 50 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 63, Hayley Matthews 44; Pooja Vastrakar 3/21, Meghna Singh 2/30)
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