Disappointing decision by New Zealand to put India into bat in humid conditions and suffer the wrath of the Mumbai mid day heat, which had its toll on their bowlers whistle their fielding lost its class period.
Credit to India, who needed this win to qualify in the top 4 in a home based World Cup , hence, their performance indicated they richly deserve a place in the top 4.
New Zealand bowlers were cartered all around the Navi Mumbai park by Pratika Rawal, Smiriti Mandana, and Jemima Rodriguez.
The opening stand of 212 between Smriti Mandana and Paatika Rawal ended Kiwis hopes of a semi-final spot because none of their bowlers looked wicket, taking because the bowled to both sides of the wickets after being miserly in the first 5 overs , which gave Indian openers the licence to express themselves.
Smriti Mandana and Partika Rawal were sublime in their approach. The intent is to play risk-free cricket, punish all bad deliveries on a batter friendly pitch, and make Sophie Divine pay for her folly in putting India to bat.
Partika Rawal made 122 in 134 deliveries with 13 boundaries and maximum. Whilst Mandana made 109 in 95 deliveries with 10 boundaries and 4 massive maximums.
It was a carnage to state the least. Thumping of the highest order. Mandana was ultimately caught in the deep in the 34th over after causing the damage to a hapless Kiwi bowling attack.
Jamima Rodriguez, who was benched for the England game , proved to the selectors and the coach cum her captain that they had their wires mixed up in dropping her , she made an unbeaten 76 in 55 deliveries with a strike rate of 138.41.
Meanwhile, Partika Rawal made merry given the opportunity by the toothless Kiwi bowling. She was dropped by Maddy Green on 112 but was dismissed on 122 by Alime Kirr in the 46th over.
The game was reduced to 49 overs because of rain interruption, but India had amazed a match winning score of 340 for 3 wickets.
Sadly , there were a few more showers just before New Zealand went into defend their total. The Duck Worth Lewis system was enforced , the new target was 325 in 44 overs.
Susie Bates has had a miserable World Cup. She is 38 years old , nothing but fair, she throws in the towel, retires and gives a youngster an opportunity.
India did not pick up a specialist bowler. They retained the services of Renuka Thakur , benched Amonjot Kaur , ignored the 6th bowling option, and played Jamima Rodriguez, and this is the best combination
Bates lost her wicket in the very first over, trying to create a stroke without assessing the bounce of the pitch to be caught at short extra cover by Partika Rawal to the bowling of Krant Goud for 1 , whilst Thakur made her day by disturbing the timber of danger lady Sophie Divine, with an indipper for 7 and New Zealand started to limp with the score on 59 for 3 wickets in the 12th over.
Thakur also bowled opening batter Georgia Plimmer for 30 with the score on 51 , hence, Thakur had 2 scalps in her bank.
Brook Haliday top scored for New Zealand with 81 , 9 boundaries, and 1 six , but Youngster Izabel Gaze made an impressive 65 with 10 boundaries and Amaline Kerr showing her prowess with 45 , and the Kiwi Queens bowed out-of the World Cup losing 8 wickets for 271 runs , thus conceeding the game to India by a massive 53 runs with an DLS equation.
New Zealand plays England in a dead rubber at 11 am. IST on Sunday, followed by India against Bangladesh at 3 pm.
Sri Lanka plays in another dead rubber against Pakistan. Guess both New Zealand and Sri Lanka will want to end their campaign on a high to try and gain the 5th slot out of 8 in this years rain effected World Cup.
Many asked me the question as to how India already qualified for their semi-finals with 6 points because both Sri Lanka and New Zealand, if they win their dead rubber , and India loses to Bangladesh, then all 3 teams namely, India , Sri Lanka and New Zealand have 6 points each , fair question, but India qualify because they have 3 wins whilst New Zealand and Sri Lanka are now out.
India already has 3 wins, and the Maximum Sri Lanka can win will be 2 games. If they best Pakistan, same applies to New Zealand if they beat England, other words Maximum of 2 wins only.
New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan were unlucky with the weather, but on performance. Australia, South Africa, England , and India were far superior to the rest of the teams in this competition in all 3 departments of the game.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan must improve in their fielding whilst Sri Lanka and New Zealand must bring in young and fresh legs to the park and force their senior players into retirement.
Main Scores.
India 340 for 3 wickets in 49 overs.
Pratika Rawal 122 , Smriti Mandana 109 , Jemima Rodriguez 76 not out.
Rosemary Mair 1 for 52
Susy Bates 1 for 46
Amalic Kerr 1 for 69
New Zealand 271 for 8 wickets in 44 overs , revised target 325.
Lost by 53 runs and eliminated.
Brook Haliday 81 ,Isabel Gaze 65 , Amalic Kerr 45,
Georgia Plimmer 30
Renuka Thakur 2 for 25
Krant Goud 2 for 48
Sneha Rana 1 for 60
Charini 1 for 58
Deepthi Sharma 1 for 57