How Devine, Bates, and Tahuhu Led NZ to Level the Series Against India-W

Nov 15, 2024

By betjili

The New Zealand Women’s cricket team leveled the ODI series against India with a powerful 76-run victory, thanks to an all-round performance from Sophie Devine, a solid foundation by Suzie Bates, and aggressive bowling by Lea Tahuhu. Here’s a breakdown of how this trio helped New Zealand stay in contention, securing crucial ICC Women's Championship points and forcing a decider in the series.

As New Zealand's captain, Sophie Devine put on an exemplary display, both leading the charge with the bat and crippling India’s chase with the ball. Her 79-run innings weren’t just about building a score but controlling the pace and momentum of the game. Devine steadied the innings when wickets started falling around her, ensuring New Zealand reached a defendable total of 259.

New Zealand’s innings took off in style as Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer stitched together a flourishing 87-run stand for the first wicket. Bates laid a steady platform with a well-crafted 58, while Plimmer exploited India’s fielding lapses to chip in with 41. Their partnership, studded with 13 boundaries and a six, reflected the team’s aggressive mindset right from the start.

Plimmer had a stroke of luck early on when she was dropped by Deepti Sharma at 16, a costly mistake for India. The Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur introduced spin in the sixth over to curb the scoring rate, but Bates and Plimmer kept the scoreboard ticking, mostly relying on timing and placement to navigate the Indian bowlers.

Lea Tahuhu wreaked havoc with the ball, claiming 3 for 42 and leaving India in disarray at 26/3 within the first five overs. She added Yastika Bhatia to her list of victims, with an edge that was cleanly caught by Isabella Gaze, who finished with an impressive four catches. Tahuhu’s relentless attack on India’s top order made it nearly impossible for the visitors to stabilize.

The final push in New Zealand’s innings came from Devine and Maddy Green, who scored a brisk 42. Together, they added crucial runs in the last six overs, plundering 55 runs and pushing the score to 259. Green played some inventive shots, including drives and ramps off Thakor in the 45th over, while Devine smashed boundaries to keep up the momentum.

New Zealand’s victory was a collective effort, with the trio of Devine, Bates, and Tahuhu each making significant contributions to level the series. Devine’s tactical leadership, Bates’ commanding start, and Tahuhu’s incisive bowling attack created a well-rounded performance that India couldn’t match. Radha Yadav’s individual brilliance provided moments of hope for India, but the lack of support from her teammates and India’s fragile top order left them falling well short.

With the series now tied, both teams will be eager to clinch victory in the decider, with New Zealand aiming to convert their momentum into a series win while India will look to tighten up their fielding and stabilize their batting order. The final promises to be a thrilling contest between two determined teams.