After 24 overs,India Women 66/3 ( Mithali Raj (C) 19 , Harmanpreet Kaur 4)
Single off each of the first three deliveries, before Kaur pulls behind square off a short-of-length ball, getting enough time to come back for a second. Five off Jess Kerr’s second over of the spell.
After 23 overs,India Women 61/3 ( Mithali Raj (C) 17 , Harmanpreet Kaur 1)
Tidy over from Jensen with just one coming from it, as Mithali collects a single off the third delivery. India need exactly 200 more to win from 27 overs with seven wickets in hand.
After 22 overs,India Women 60/3 ( Mithali Raj (C) 16 , Harmanpreet Kaur 1)
Raj drives the ball towards extra cover in the third delivery, the ball landing just short of the fielder and going past her to allow the batter an easy single. Harmanpreet steers a low full toss through point for a single in the fifth delivery, getting off the mark in the process. Mithali keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. Three from the over.
After 21 overs,New Zealand Women 119/2 ( Amelia Kerr 49 , Amy Satterthwaite 23)
Mithali finally decides to show some intent in this over, going for a lofted drive over mid on for a brace before the ball flies past the lone slip after a thick outside edge to give the India skipper her first boundary of this World Cup. She cuts the ball past point for a single off the final delivery to keep the strike. Seven from the over.
After 20 overs,India Women 50/3 ( Mithali Raj (C) 7 , Harmanpreet Kaur 0)
And now a wicket maiden for Lea Tahuhu, who’s bowling the spell of a lifetime at the moment (6-2-7-2) as the set Yastika Bhatia departs for 28. Harmanpreet Kaur joins Mithali Raj at the crease with the situation looking increasingly grim for the Women in Blue. India desperately need a major partnership between the two experienced campaigners now.
After 19 overs,India Women 50/2 ( Yastika Bhatia 28 , Mithali Raj (C) 7)
Bhatia and Raj continue to rotate the strike, with three singles coming in the over as Team India cross the 50-mark, although they have consumed nearly 20 overs for the same. The White Ferns had done the same in half as many overs.
After 18 overs,India Women 47/2 ( Yastika Bhatia 26 , Mithali Raj (C) 6)
Tahuhu continues. Frances Mackay puts down a tough chance at extra cover after Mithali drives the ball in her direction. Just one off Tahuhu’s fifth over.
After 17 overs,India Women 46/2 ( Yastika Bhatia 25 , Mithali Raj (C) 6)
One seamer replaces another as Hayley Jensen replaces Hannah Rowe. Three runs added to the Indian total, including a leg bye in the second delivery.
After 16 overs,India Women 43/2 ( Yastika Bhatia 24 , Mithali Raj (C) 5)
Just three runs conceded by Tahuhu in her fourth over as the players break for drinks. India’s run rate continues to hover around the two-and-a-half mark with both batters striking at 50 or less at the moment. India will have to find a way to break the shackles and get a couple of big overs to get back on track.
After 15 overs,India Women 40/2 ( Yastika Bhatia 22 , Mithali Raj (C) 4)
FOUR! Bhatia lofts one over mid off, getting enough timing on the shot for the ball to roll away to the boundary cushion after landing beyond the circle. Rowe’s in a bit of discomfort at the start of her third delivery, appearing to have hurt her left ankle, and takes a while before sending down the third delivery. Three singles and a wide off the remaining deliveries. Eight from the over.