New Zealand 259 for 9 (Devine 79, Bates 58, Radha 4-69) vs India
The first of those saw complete domination by their openers Bates and Plimmer. The two combined to thump 13 fours and a six in the first 15 overs, by which time New Zealand had steadily made their way to 87. During that period, the New Zealand openers relied mostly on timing and placement instead of power and force. But a flicked four by Bates next over off Saima Thakor was what stood out: she just waited for the ball to arrive at her pads, and gently guided it to the fine-leg boundary.
The breakthrough finally came when Radha took the first of her two great catches in the 16th over. Placed at midwicket, she moved swiftly to her right before diving full stretch to have Plimmer caught for 41 off Deepti. That started a run of 12 overs which saw New Zealand score only 34 runs, and lose three wickets. Bates went past fifty, but one of her drives down the ground deflected off Mishra’s hands, and found Lauren Down short at the non-striker’s end in the 21st over.
In the 27th, Radha had Bates caught and bowled for 58, but Devine stood firm at the other end. That started a period of play where New Zealand steadied themselves. In the next 17 overs, they scored 84, and lost only one wicket. Devine cut, flicked and pulled for boundaries, but in the 32nd over, Radha stunned New Zealand with her fielding effort again. Now placed at extra cover, she sprinted and dived full stretch to have Brooke Halliday for 8.
But Devine and Green ensured India didn’t run away with the game. They kept ticking along firmly, with Devine overturning an lbw decision against her when on 36. She got to her fifty off 65 balls in the 41st over, and set the base for a solid finish. The last six overs saw New Zealand pummel 55 runs, with Green driving, ramping and flicking Thakor for successive boundaries in the 45th over.
Radha had Green holing out to long-off next over, but boundaries from Jess Kerr and a six from Devine took New Zealand to 259. Radha ended with 4 for 69, included two wickets in the penultimate over.