Twitter Reactions: India Women's winless streak continues as New Zealand come on top in rain-affected game

India Women faced yet another loss in the fourth ODI by 63 runs in a rain-affected game against New Zealand Women and they have lots to ponder about going into the World Cup next month. The match was reduced to 20 overs per side and New Zealand looked quite clinical in all departments. Clearly, the Indian bowling has been pretty ordinary so far in the series despite the impressive batting efforts.

Earlier in the match, the India won the toss and chose to bowl at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown. Skipper Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates looked in supreme touch with the bat as they raised to team 50 within the powerplay. Devine after a well made 24-ball 32 was dismissed by an extraordinary flying catch from Smriti Mandhana off the bowling of Renuka Singh. However, Amelia Kerr continued the momentum after coming at three.

Bates perished at the 10 over-mark for a 26-ball 41 while Kerr kept finding the boundaries from the other end. Amy Satterthwaite got going straightaway as she made a 16-ball 32 and hit two sixes and three fours in her quickfire knock. Francis Mackay struggled to get going and Lauren Down followed her soon. However, Kerr reached her fifty in a very quick time and she remained unbeaten on 68 with 11 fours and a six at a strike rate of 206.06 to end New Zealand’s innings on a high.

India women suffer an early collapse in a big chase

India had a stiff target of 192 to chase down in 20 overs, and they did not have the best of starts with losing the top four batters inside the fourth over-mark. Skipper Mithali Raj and wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh formed an excellent 77 run partnership for the fifth wicket. Ghosh in particular was quite aggressive from the start and she brought up India women’s fastest half-century in ODIs in just 26 deliveries.

Ghosh 29-ball 52 comprised of four sixes and four fours while none of the other batters could provide a substantial contribution after her dismissal. Mithali played a decent inning of 28-ball 32 but she never looked like winning the game for India while the bowling worked out really well for the New Zealand women. Hayley Jensen and Amelia Kerr picked up three wickets each while Jess Kerr and Frances Mackay accounted for two dismissals each.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to it: