down the pitch, and a six to seal it! This is now the second-highest run chase in the history of women's ODIs. Down takes it away with five balls to go. The ball was tossed up, and was full outside off. It invited the big shot, and Down obliged. She lofted that bang over the bowler's head, and that was that. New Zealand take the series with two matches left
IND Women vs NZ Women, 3rd ODI at Queenstown, NZ-W v IND-W, Feb 18 2022 - Match Result
NZ Women won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
So a match that resembled cat-and-mouse stuff in the death overs of New Zealand's chase eventually goes to them. With that, they also have the series with two matches left, a confidence builder ahead of the World Cup. But can India go into the big tournament with something to smile about? Join us for the next game on Tuesday. Until then, it is goodnight and goodbye from Sudarshanan and Raghav, and me, Himanshu!
Jared: "Wow, I think Lauren Down has just booked a spot at 6 for the World Cup."
Sophie Devine, the winning captain: "The cricket we have played has been outstanding. The way the batters handled the run chase, it could have gone away from us. You could talk about all the batters... We don't get too nervous about chasing down big scores. We set ourselves high standards in the field. Really impressive the way group stuck with it... Consistency screamed out. We want to continue the trend of scoring 270-plus. I would have liked to have added a few more. But the way they went about was a huge step. It was special, and the group should be proud of it."
Mithali Raj speaks after the match: "We didn't get the partnerships we wanted in the middle order, but Deepti got us to 280. Every game the batting unit has been doing well. It goes down the wire... but there are areas we need to improve in in the field."
Down is the Player of the Match: "That was a bit of fun. Really nice... great to see right across the series different people contributing. At 152 for 4, we talked about keeping it simple and trying to put the bad balls away. There'll be a couple of celebrations for the series win."
Time for the presentations
Ravi: "In the end fielding cost India"
Sugun: "49th is more crucial, too little to defend in the last over. "
6.26pm A match which swung one way and another finally ends in New Zealand's bag. Both sides had their chances during the chase, and Down's 64* at a strike rate of 123 did the job for the hosts. Who knows what might have been had India taken those catches? But no excuses there, India had their moments which they couldn't grab.
6 off 6.
Oscar: "47.5 What line is the Umpire looking at?! Hope that call isn't decisive." --- I guess the only justification there would be the bowler going wide since she saw the batter dancing down early.
yorker on off, and swung away to long leg. Deep square leg chases to her right, and that is two more
Praveen: "All the great work done by Jhulan, outdone in her last two overs."
yorker on off, and she jams that down toward cover. Another single, and that is ten off the over already
mid-off slides to her left, but the ball slides through! Right in the slot on off, and she makes room to swing it high. Four more, and New Zealand ever closer now
Rahul Kapoor: "What a classic this is turning out to be!!"
makes room, as Goswami jams that yorker on middle and off. Mackay gets the bat down, and they pinch a single to the bowler's left
tries to reverse-scoop this full ball a touch wide of off, but is beaten. Trying to be too clever there
one-bounce four over mid-on! Came down the pitch to that full ball on off, and the length allowed her a free swing of the arms. Four runs, and that is a good start for New Zealand
18 off 12. Goswami into her last over.
and again. That was much slower, although it was again short and wide of off. Beaten by the lack of pace as she tried to cut. Just four off this over
she saw the batter trying to dance down, and went short and wide of off. Down missed her cut, and so Bhatia whipped off the bails
Manish: "Difference between two innings is the number of 2's taken by NZ."
again full on off, and again she is down the track to clip toward short fine leg
full ball on off, and that is tucked toward midwicket. Another two run very quickly, with the bowler giving the chase before leaving it for the fielder in the deep
skips down, and lofts that full ball outside off on the bounce to long-off. That was hit flat
good length ball outside off, and chipped to long-on
That was an expensive over for India. 23 to get from 18 now.
lofted to deep midwicket, and that is an outstanding piece of work by Shafali! The ball was full on middle, and right in the slot. Down swung, as Shafali chased to her left before pulling it back off the rope
shortish in length, and wide of off. That is slashed to the left of the fielder at cover, and allows two. Deep point chases to her left, and this is Down's fifty off 45 balls. But the job remains to be done
good length ball outside off, and she shuffles across to clip that to deep backward square leg
back of a length outside off, with a hint of movement away. She has to go deep in her crease and leap while defending that back with a slightly open face of the bat
fuller and just outside off. Better ball from Goswami, and this is only blocked back
but that's a four to start! Good length ball on middle and leg, and she goes deep in her crease to tickle that off her hips to straightish fine leg
Over the wicket.
Guess what? The required rate is now suddenly eight an over. And here comes Goswami for her ninth over. She has 3 for 26 so far.
another dot. Good over for Deepti. That was short of a length and wide of off, and Down missed out on a scoring opportunity by finding point with her cut
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W |
1W |
John Davies Oval, Queenstown | |
Toss | New Zealand Women, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2021/22 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | New Zealand Women led the 5-match series 3-0 |
Match number | WODI no. 1241 |
Match days | 16 February 2022 - day (50-over match) |
WODI debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |