 "India opener Smriti Mandhana raises her bat in celebration after completing her century during the third ODI against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. PTI")
Smriti Mandhana struck a fluent century as the India women’s cricket team defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the third and final ODI, securing a 2-1 series victory in the process. Opener Mandhana collected 10 fours in her knock of 100 off 122 balls as the Women in Blue chased down the target of 233 set by New Zealand with nearly six overs to spare.
Mandhana returned to form after registering a single-digit score in each of her last three outings, helping the hosts recover from the early dismissal of opening partner Shafali Verma by stitching valuable partnerships with Yastika Bhatia (35) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (59 not out).
Skipper Harmanpreet, who collected six fours in her unbeaten 59 off 63 deliveries, eventually got the team across the line with plenty of wickets and deliveries to spare.
New Zealand had earlier recovered to reach 232 for five from a precarious 88/5 after opting to bat in the series decider, courtesy Brooke Halliday (86 off 96 deliveries).
Coming into the decider, Mandhana had only scored five runs in the two previous games and was even off coloured in the preceding T20 World Cup, but her solid stay at the crease, and her 118-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet formed the cornerstone of the easy win.
Mandhana lost opening partner Verma (12) early but wicketkeeper-batter Yastika played an ideal foil for the senior teammate as they stitched together a 76-run partnership.
Yastika departed trying to play a fuller ball outside off, giving a return catch to New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine. Her departure brought Harmanpreet to the crease and the partnership with Mandhana flourished, with the latter smashing 10 boundaries.
Mandhana departed on 209, bowled by right-arm pacer Hannah Rowe in the 41st over, she had virtually accomplished the task for India.
Earlier, New Zealand middle-order batter Halliday struck a 96-ball 86 and lifted New Zealand to a fighting total.
To start with, the Indian bowlers fired in unison and had the visitors in all sorts of trouble with their disciplined line and length.
Looking to win the series and regain some lost ground after their early exit in the T20 World Cup, India began the match in earnest and struck twice to leave the Kiwis at 25 for two in 7.1 overs.
Jemimah Rodrigues and wicket-keeper Yastika combined to run out Suzie Bates while Lauren Down was jettisoned by Saima Thakor at the start of eighth over.
Introduced in the 11th over, young leg-spinner Priya Mishra (2/41 in 10 overs) gave India a major breakthrough when she bowled New Zealand captain Devine (9 off 11 balls), leaving the visitors in a spot of bother 36 for three.
New Zealand’s hopes of putting up a competitive score rested on the shoulders of Georgia Plimmer, who dropped anchor considering the situation her team found itself in.
However, having ambled to 39, Plimmer was dismissed by Mishra, and her innings lasted 67 balls. Maddy Green was run out for a 15-ball 19 as New Zealand slipped to 88 for five in the 24th over.
In search for a partnership, the Kiwis finally found some flow to their innings with Halliday and wicketkeeper batter Isabella Gaze (25 off 49 balls) adding 64 runs for the sixth wicket.
With PTI inputs