India suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 3rd ODI against New Zealand women on Friday as they conceded an unbeatable 0-3 lead in the 5-match series in Queenstown. Despite posting 279, their highest total in ODIs against the White Ferns, Mithali Raj’s side ended up on the losing side.

Led by fifties from Amelia Kerr (67), Amy Satterthwaite (59) and Lauren Down (64 not out in 52 balls), New Zealand registered their highest-ever successful run-chase in ODIs as they got past the finish line with 3 wickets to spare.

New Zealand also entered record books as Friday’s chase was the 2nd most successful chase ever in the history of women’s ODI cricket.

India are yet to open their account on their tour of New Zealand. They lost the one-off T20I after which they have slipped to 3 successive defeats in the ODIs.

The loss in the 3rd ODI will hurt India ahead of next month’s World Cup as they did most things right with the bat but ordinary fielding and bowling performances let them down.

MEGHANA AND SHAFALI IN WHIRLWIND OPENING STAND

With star opener Smriti Mandhana not available for the 3rd ODI, India persisted with their opening combination of Sabbhineni Meghana and Shafali Verma. The young opening duo got off to a whirlwind start, putting on a 100-run stand in just 12 overs to set up a solid platform for India.

Meghana hit her maiden ODI fifty, smashing 2 sixes and 9 boundaries for her 41-ball 61. Shafali hit a 57-ball 51 but Rosemary Mair got the opening wicket, removing Meghana in the 13th over.

However, the Indian middle-order — Yastika Bhatia (19), Mithali Raj (23) and Harmanpreet Kaur (13)- failed to make good use of the strong start.

India were looking good to post 300 but the middle-order wobble pegged them back.

Nonetheless, all-rounder, Deepti Sharma hit an unbeaten 69 from 69 balls to help India post 279.

India could not have asked for a better start with the ball as senior pacer Jhulan Goswami, who returned to the XI after being rested for the 2nd ODI, got the big wickets of Sophie Devine (0) and Suzie Bates (5) with two unplayable deliveries.

Jhulan Goswami just doing Jhulan Goswami things as she dismisses both the NZ openers!#NZvIND #LiveCricketOnPrime pic.twitter.com/LtufE12P5O

— amazon prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) February 18, 2022

AMEILIA KERR HURTS INDIA AGAIN

However, Amelia Kerr, who hit a match-winning hundred in the 2nd ODI, stepped up once again, hitting 67 and stitching a 103-run stand for the 3rd wicket with Amy Satterthwaite.

Jhulan Goswami was needed once again to break the partnership as the senior pacer removed Satterthwaite.

Renuka Singh got the dangerous Maddy Green out but Lauren Down and Katey Martin (35) kept their nerve to help New Zealand script the record chase.

For India, Goswami was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/47 but the trio of spinners — Deepti, Ekta Bisht and Sneh Rana – lacked penetration that allowed New Zealand’s middle-order batters to make merry.

NZ W vs IND W 3rd ODI Brief Scores

New Zealand 280/7 in 49.1 overs (A Kerr 67, Down 64*; Goswami 3/47) beat India 279-all out (Deepti 69, Meghana 61; Mair 2/43) by 3 wickets.