fifth WODI: Time operating out as Indian girls look to keep away from New Zealand clear sweep

India shall be determined to realize some momentum heading into the World Cup however for that, their bowlers must increase their sport as they search to cease New Zealand from finishing a 5-0 whitewash within the fifth girls’s ODI on Thursday.

Having misplaced all matches performed right here up to now, together with the lone T20I, the Mithali Raj-led aspect is discovering it troublesome to stem the rot and faces the ignominy of a one-sided sequence defeat days forward of the World Cup.

The sequence defeat is India’s fourth within the final one yr, having misplaced to South Africa, England and Australia earlier.

While the batters did increase their sport within the second and third ODIs with a much-improved efficiency, the bowling unit has let the group down all through the sequence, one thing that Mithali admitted was a priority heading into the World Cup.

A record-breaking knock deserves some particular reward! 👏 👏

Here’s what #CrewIndia all-rounder @Deepti_Sharma06 needed to say about @13richaghosh 🎥 🔽 #NZWvINDW pic.twitter.com/CpX89TVKgF

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 22, 2022

“Definitely have been trying a few combinations with the seam and spin attack. Bowling attack is a concern going into the World Cup,” Mithali stated.

“We are adapting to the conditions and to the open ground and the breeze. We have not been very consistent in our bowling spells.”

The Indian group hasn’t carried out as a cohesive unit. While the bowlers did not defend 270 plus targets in two video games, the batters had been unable to chase 276 and 192 in 20 overs within the fourth ODI. The fielding has additionally been sub-standard.

With as many as three gamers in prolonged Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) for the primary half of the tour, India continued to experiment with their line up.

With stress increase on Harmanpreet Kaur, who has managed simply 33 runs within the three ODIs and was additionally costly with the ball, the guests ignored the vice-captain from the enjoying XI within the fourth ODI.

Shafali Verma can be but to fireside. The teenager has solely struck one fifty within the sequence and was out on nought within the final sport.

The spin division, save Deepti Sharma, has been inconsistent whereas the tempo assault has lacked tooth to bother the opposition batters. Overall, the Indian bowlers have struggled to adapt to the circumstances.

The positives for India embrace teenage wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh’s good kind. The 18-year-old scored back-to-back half centuries within the second and fourth ODI and is India’s second highest run-getter within the event behind Mithali.

With Richa and the dependable Taniya Bhatia, India have two stable wicketkeeping choices heading into the World Cup.

In the absence of Smriti Mandhana, who missed the one-off T20 and three ODIs due to prolonged MIQ, Sabbhineni Meghana carried out effectively on the high.

Deepti is the sequence’ main wicket-taker with eight scalps, whereas veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami (5), who has performed solely two video games, additionally figures within the high 4.

With the World Cup across the nook and simply two warm-up matches towards South Africa and the West Indies after the sport on Thursday, India will badly want some momentum heading into the marquee occasion.

New Zealand, alternatively, shall be delighted with how the sequence has panned out.

Their high batters have been spectacular, with Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates hitting 100 every whereas Amy Satterthwaite has scored two fifties.

The lower-order has additionally proven it could actually end video games, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat within the third ODI.

The Kerr sisters — Jess (7) and Amelia (6) — have delivered with the with the ball as have pacer Hayley Jensen (5) and skipper Sophie Devine (4).

Teams (from):

India: Sabbhineni Meghana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Simran Bahadur, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Sneh Rana, Meghna Singh, Taniya Bhatia, Renuka Singh, Smriti Mandhana, Jhulan Goswami.

New Zealand: Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Amy Satterthwaite (c), Maddy Green, Katey Martin (wk), Hayley Jensen, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Fran Jonas, Lea Tahuhu, Lauren Down, Frances Mackay, Hannah Rowe.

Match begins 3.30 am IST.