Shafali, Mamatha fifties help India A stun New Zealand by four wickets in ODI WC warm-up
India A’s Shafali Verma and Mamatha Madiwala smashed fifties to lead their team to a thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand in a Women’s ODI World Cup warm-up match in Bengaluru on Thursday. The victory came at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2, giving the hosts a strong boost ahead of the main tournament.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first, posting 273 for nine in 50 overs. Opener Isabella Gaze starred with an unbeaten 101 off 100 balls, smashing 15 fours and a six to rescue her team from early trouble. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer fell cheaply, and despite handy knocks from captain Sophie Devine (34) and Maddy Green (30), New Zealand slipped to 85 for five. Jess Kerr added 36 to help steady the innings.
India A’s bowlers kept the pressure on, with pacer Sayali Satghare taking three for 45 as the top performer. Minnu Mani, Titas Sadhu, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Tanuja Kanwer, and Prema Rawat each claimed a wicket to restrict New Zealand.
Rain then interrupted India A’s chase, adjusting the target to 224 in 40 overs under the DLS method. Shafali Verma, returning after missing India’s main World Cup squad, lit up the game with a fiery 70 off 49 balls, including 11 fours and a six in her aggressive style. But quick dismissals of Vrinda Dinesh, Dhara Gujjar, and Tejal Hasabnis left India A wobbling at 121 for six.
Enter wicketkeeper-batter Mamatha Madiwala, who steadied the ship with an unbeaten 56 off 60 balls, featuring six fours and a six. All-rounder Minnu Mani supported her brilliantly, remaining not out on 39 off 53 balls with three fours and a six. The duo guided India A to 226 for six in 39.3 overs, sealing the win with just three balls to spare in a nail-biting finish.
This marks another strong showing for India A, fresh off a 2-1 series win in a multi-format tour of Australia in August. New Zealand, chasing their first ODI World Cup title since 2000, will look to fix their errors before facing the full Indian team led by Harmanpreet Kaur in their next warm-up on Saturday at the same venue.
Brief scores: New Zealand 273/9 in 50 overs (Isabella Gaze 101 not out, Jess Kerr 36; Sayali Satghare 3-45, Priya Mishra 1-24) lost to India A 226/6 in 39.3 overs (Shafali Verma 70, Mamatha Madiwala 56 not out; Jess Kerr 2-15, Amelia Kerr 2-26) by four wickets (DLS method).
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