10 Feb 2019

White Ferns make it 3-nil

7:16 pm on 10 February 2019

The New Zealand women's cricket team has dramatically won the third and final Twenty20 international against India in Hamilton to complete a series sweep.

White Ferns players celebrate the wicket of Punia.
New Zealand White Ferns v India. Women's Twenty20 International cricket. 3rd T20. Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand. Sunday 10 February 2019.  © Copyright photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019

The White Ferns have beaten India by just two runs at Seddon Park, with the tourists finishing on 159/4 in pursuit of 162 for victory.

India one-day captain Mithali Raj needed a four from the final delivery of the match to win the game, but was only able to grab a single from the bowling of New Zealand spinner Leigh Kasperek.

Raj finished unbeaten on 24 (20), while Deepti Sharma struck 21 (16) to set up the thrilling finish.

Opener Smriti Mandhana earlier smashed 86 (62) to have India on course for victory, with the White Ferns' chances of winning rising considerably when she was drawn into a false shot by Sophie Devine and caught by Lea Tahuhu.

Devine finished with the best figures of the New Zealand bowlers, taking 2/21 from her four overs.

She was named player of the match, having helped the White Ferns post 161/7 from their 20 overs after captain Amy Satterthwaite won the toss and decided to bat first.

Sophie Devine batting.
New Zealand White Ferns v India. Women's Twenty20 International cricket. 3rd T20. Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand. Sunday 10 February 2019.  © Copyright photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019

Sophie Devine led the way with a typically hard-hitting 72 (52) and shared in a 71-run third wicket partnership with Satterthwaite, who scored 31 (23).

But once Devine was dismissed in the 17th over, New Zealand lost its way, only scoring 21 runs from the final three overs and losing four further wickets.

Sharma was the pick of the India bowlers, with 2/28 from her four overs, while Mansi Joshi, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy and Poonam Yadav took a wicket each.

The White Ferns will now look ahead to their three-match Rose Bowl series in Australia, starting on Friday February 22 at the WACA Ground in Perth.