Mandhana slams 8th ton as India seal series

PTI Ahmedabad: Charismatic India batter Smriti Mandhana finally played a knock befitting her calibre as India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the deciding game to seal the three-match Women's ODI series 2-1 here on Tuesday. Mandhana (100 off 122 balls), who wasn't able to showcase her class at the top of the order in the two previous games, made her 8th ODI hundred century, the most by an Indian in the format. India coasted to the 233 run target in 44.2 overs. New Zealand had recovered to reach 232 for five from a precarious 88/5 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 Kaur (59 not out off 63) formed the cornerstone of the easy win. Mandhana lost opening partner Shafali Verma (12) early but wicketkeeperbatter Yastika Bhatia (35) 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 but ended up 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.

By the time 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.