Mandhana knock in vain, NZ win series

HAMILTON: The Indian women’s team almost pulled off a dramatic win but failed to score a boundary in the final delivery to lose the third and final T20 International against New Zealand by two runs here on Sunday.

Chasing 162 for a win, star opening batter Smriti Mandhana took the Indian team on course for a consolation win with a career-best knock of 86 from 52 balls but the visiting side failed to build on her scintillating knock to end at 159 for 4.

With the three-match series already lost after defeats in the first and second T20s, India surprisingly named senior player Mithali Raj in the playing eleven and she contributed 24 not out Score