Suzie Bates scored a magnificent 106 while Jess Kerr claimed a four-for to beat India Women by 62 runs in the first ODI on February 12.
After beating India in the only T20I, New Zealand started the five-match ODI series on a high as well. The Sophie Devine-led side defeated Indian women by 62 runs in the series opener at Queenstown on Saturday to take 1-0 lead, in what is seen as a preparation for the ICC women’s ODI World Cup in March.
One of the driving forces of this New Zealand women’s team for one and a half decades, Bates was the star for the hosts with the bat, scoring a power-packed 106 off 111. Kerr was the standout bowler, picking four for 35 as they went on to complete a dominant win.
As it happened, India won the toss and elected to bowl first, but things didn’t go there way as NZ openers Bates and Maddy Green put on a 54-run stand. Bates and Amelia Kerr then added another 52-run partnership for the second wicket.
Satterthwaite and Bates built on to the start and put on 98 runs together for the third wicket. Bates brought up her 11th hundred in ODI cricket. After her dismissal, Satterthwaite took charge and scored 63 off 67 balls.
NZ looked set to get 300 but kept losing wickets at the back end, eventually getting bowled out for 275 with 11 balls unused. Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma picked two scalps each for India.
Chasing the target, India lost both the openers inside the first six overs. Yastika Bhatia (41) and captain Mithali Raj (59) added an 88-run partnership for the third wicket to steady the ship.
However, after Bhatia’s departure, Jess Kerr ran through the middle order, dismissing Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur (10) and Deepti Sharma (16). The target proved too big for India as they were shot out for 213 in the end.
India will take on the hosts in the second ODI on February 15 at the same venue of Queenstown, with an aim to level the series.
Brief scores
New Zealand Women – 275 in 48.1 overs (Bates 108, Satterthwaite 63; Gayakwad 2/28, Goswami 2/58)
India Women – 213 in 49.4 overs (Raj 59, Bhatia 41; Kerr 4/35, Jensen 2/36)
