NZ Women vs India Women Scorecard was one of the most anticipated fixtures in women’s international cricket this season. Both sides brought their best players, aiming to assert dominance early in the series. New Zealand Women, known for their aggressive batting and disciplined bowling, faced India Women, a team blending experience, power-hitting, and strategic bowling attacks.
Winning the toss, India Women chose to bat first, aiming to set a competitive total on a pitch that offered consistent bounce but required careful stroke selection early on. This strategic choice was crucial, as early wickets could have tilted the balance in favor of New Zealand Women.
India Women Innings – Building a Competitive Total
Opening for India Women, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set the tone with a cautious yet confident start. Mandhana scored a commanding 71 runs, combining elegant stroke play with smart rotation of strike, while Shafali contributed a rapid 46, exploiting gaps and maintaining a brisk scoring rate.
The middle order, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, added crucial runs under pressure. Her 39-run knock stabilized the innings after two quick wickets. Deepti Sharma’s late surge of 28 runs in the final overs allowed India Women to finish their 50 overs at 254/7, a challenging total on the day, putting New Zealand Women under immediate pressure during their chase.
Partnerships proved pivotal. Mandhana and Shafali’s opening stand of 85 runs set a solid foundation. Later, Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh contributed vital runs in the middle overs, showcasing how partnerships and tactical running between the wickets can change match dynamics.
New Zealand Women Batting Response
Chasing 255, New Zealand Women relied on Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates to navigate the early overs. Both batters scored quickly while rotating strike effectively, keeping the required run rate manageable. By the 15th over, NZ Women had scored 92/1, reflecting a positive start.
However, India Women’s spinners, led by Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav, struck crucial blows, dismissing Bates for 57 and Kerr for 48. This middle-order collapse brought pressure on the chasing side. Despite Sophie Devine’s 44-run knock, New Zealand Women fell short, finishing their innings at 247/8, losing by just 7 runs.
The match highlighted how crucial middle-order stability is in one-day cricket, especially in high-stakes encounters where small margins can decide outcomes.
Bowling and Fielding Highlights
India Women’s bowling attack combined pace, spin, and tactical variation efficiently. Jhulan Goswami’s disciplined fast bowling yielded early breakthroughs, while Deepti Sharma’s off-spin claimed 3 vital wickets. Poonam Yadav’s leg-spin added crucial pressure, restricting boundary scoring during the middle overs.
New Zealand Women’s bowlers also showcased moments of brilliance. Lea Tahuhu and Hannah Rowe struck early wickets, while Amelia Kerr’s part-time spin created breakthroughs. Yet, India Women’s consistent partnerships and smart running between the wickets ensured that NZ Women never fully dominated the chase.
Fielding played a decisive role in this match. India Women executed two sharp run-outs and maintained tight ground fielding, saving valuable runs. New Zealand Women also displayed athletic fielding, including diving stops and tight catching, but missed opportunities during critical moments allowed India Women to maintain an edge.
Over-by-Over Match Insights
India Women’s innings began with steady scoring in the first ten overs, around 5.5 runs per over, with Mandhana anchoring the innings. Between overs 11–30, aggressive stroke play by Mandhana and Shafali accelerated scoring. In the final ten overs, Harmanpreet and Deepti added 65 crucial runs, finishing at 254/7.
New Zealand Women’s chase was aggressive from the start, maintaining a run rate of over 5 runs per over. However, overs 20–35 proved challenging as India Women’s spin attack restricted scoring and claimed crucial wickets. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine attempted to rebuild, but consistent breakthroughs prevented NZ Women from closing the gap.
Key Turning Points
Several moments shaped the outcome. Deepti Sharma’s dismissal of Suzie Bates at a crucial juncture in the 28th over shifted momentum toward India Women. Jhulan Goswami’s disciplined opening spell, taking two early wickets, applied initial pressure. Richa Ghosh’s sharp fielding saved three potential boundaries, exemplifying how fielding can influence tight encounters.
These small but significant moments emphasized that in one-day cricket, strategic execution and fielding brilliance often outweigh raw power hitting alone.
Player Comparisons and Historical Context
Historically, matches between India Women and New Zealand Women have been competitive, with both sides leveraging experience and youth. India Women rely on a balance of aggressive batting at the top and disciplined spin in the middle overs, while NZ Women often depend on powerful stroke-play combined with tactical pace bowling.
In this game, India Women’s strategy of building partnerships and applying spin pressure in the middle overs proved decisive. Mandhana’s captaincy, combined with the consistent bowling of Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav, exemplified the importance of tactical acumen in women’s cricket.
Statistical Overview – NZ Women vs India Women Scorecard
India Women Innings: 254/7 (50 overs)
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Smriti Mandhana 71 (85 balls)
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Shafali Verma 46 (33 balls)
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Harmanpreet Kaur 39 (31 balls)
New Zealand Women Innings: 247/8 (50 overs)
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Suzie Bates 57 (60 balls)
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Amelia Kerr 48 (55 balls)
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Sophie Devine 44 (38 balls)
Bowling highlights: Deepti Sharma 3/42, Poonam Yadav 2/35, Jhulan Goswami 2/41, Lea Tahuhu 2/48.
Tactical Insights and Learnings
The match offered several tactical takeaways. Building partnerships during the middle overs, executing precise spin strategies, and leveraging sharp fielding were key to India Women’s victory. For New Zealand Women, converting strong starts into sustainable partnerships and controlling middle overs remains essential.
NZ Women vs India Women matches demonstrate how every run, wicket, and fielding effort counts. In this game, strategic execution outweighed raw hitting power, highlighting the evolving competitiveness of women’s cricket.
Match Dynamics and Fan Takeaways
Overall, nz women vs india women scorecard highlights a thrilling contest showcasing tactical brilliance, aggressive batting, and disciplined bowling. Fans witnessed elegant stroke play, clever bowling variations, and strategic fielding. The match reinforced the importance of middle-over partnerships, spin strategy, and strong captaincy in shaping outcomes.
India Women’s victory by 7 runs will be remembered for its intensity, key turning points, and the fine margins deciding the winner in this closely fought encounter.
