Impressive Run Chase Underpins India Victory

Impressive Run Chase Underpins India Victory

Pooam Raut, here in action batting against England, laid the foundations for India's win with a half-century

©REUTERS / Action Images

India Women 204-2 (Raut 69) beat
New Zealand Women 201 by eight wickets
Women's World Cup warm-up, Mumbai

Nothwithstanding New Zealand's poor form since the previous tournament, India produced an impressive eight-wicket win over the 2009 finalists in their first warm-up game ahead of the 2013 Women's World Cup in Mumbai.

Hosts India are one of just four teams to make it through to a Women's World Cup final and they asserted their advantage over the White Ferns by chasing down 202 to win in 43.3 overs.

Batting first, New Zealand were dismissed for 201 as Jhulan Goswami took three wickets and India's run chase was built around Poonam Raut's 69 at the top of the order.

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Goswami struck early to bowl Natalie Dodd and then Nagarajan Niranjana bowled Amy Satterthwaite to leave New Zealand in trouble. When Suzie Bates fell for 27, caught by Goswami off Amita Sharma, India were in control.

New Zealand launched a fightback through half-centuries by Sara McGlashan (56) and Frances Mackay (69) but after they were dismissed by Niranjana and Ekta Bisht there was little in the way of runs to follow and as Goswami completed her figures of three for 26, New Zealand crept past 200.

Raut, who faced 89 balls and hit 12 fours, combined with opening partner Thirush Kamini (43) to add 119 for the first wicket, blunting New Zealand's attack and doing more than half of the job.

Both fell - bowled by Lea Tahuhu and Sian Ruck respectively - within an over of each other to give New Zealand the slightest of chances but Mithali Raj (36 not out) and Harmanpreet Kaur (46 not out) closed that door emphatically with an unbroken partnership worth 85 for the third wicket.

India meet Australia in their next warm-up game tomorrow (29th January) while New Zealand hope for better luck against reigning champions England in a repeat of 2009's final.

© Cricket World 2013