Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s 69 highlighted India’s comprehensive effort in their four-wicket victory via the DLS method over New Zealand in the second and final warm-up match on Saturday, ahead of the women’s ODI World Cup.
India will face tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka in their first match on September 30.
The rain-affected 42-overs per-side contest saw India outplay New Zealand in all departments, bouncing back from their heavy loss to England in the first warm-up match.
Chasing a revised target of 237 after New Zealand posted 232/8, India comfortably reached the target with 10 deliveries and four wickets remaining.
Harmanpreet was in fine form, scoring 69 off 86 balls with eight fours. She shared a crucial 132-run partnership for the third wicket with Harleen Deol, who scored 74 off 79 balls with 10 fours before retiring out.
India’s openers Pratika Rawal (15) and Uma Chetry (38) set the foundation with a 54-run stand.
Earlier, New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine scored a run-a-ball 54 with nine fours, while Maddy Green contributed an unbeaten 49 to help the Kiwis reach 232 for eight.
Pacer Kranti Goud put New Zealand in trouble at 38 for two in the eighth over, but a 91-run partnership between Amelia Kerr (40) and Devine stabilized the innings.
Both Kerr and Devine were dismissed in quick succession, but Green, who hit four fours and a six, and Isabella Gaze, who scored 21 not out with three fours, provided strong support.
For India, Shree Charani was the standout bowler with 3/49, while Goud and Arundhati Reddy took two wickets each.
Brief scores: New Zealand Women 232/8 in 42 overs (Amelia Kerr 40, Sophie Devine 54, Maddy Green 49 not out; Shree Charani 3/53)
India Women 237/6 in 40.2 overs (Uma Chetry 38, Harleen Deol 74 retired out, Harmanpreet Kaur 69; Bree Illing 2/34)
(With PTI Inputs)
