Tahuhu’s aggression kills off India’s hopes
Frankie Mackay’s first cricket international in nearly five years was always going to be a memorable one.
But not quite in a way she and her White Ferns teammates imagined, as they conjured a stunning 23-run victory over India in the first women’s
Twenty20 cricket international in Wellington.
Having last played for New Zealand in April 2014, Mackay dusted herself off from a sickening mid-pitch collision with team-mate Katey Martin while batting, then had to limp off Westpac Stadium just three balls into India’s innings after rolling her ankle when trying to field off her own bowling.
Surely the cricketing gods had it in for her.
Without their key offspinner it looked bleak for New Zealand as India got away, racing to 102-1 in the
12th over chasing 160, with classy opener Smriti Mandhana in complete control.
But it all turned in an awful hurry, thanks to a lively, aggressive spell from senior pace bowler Lea Tahuhu. She took three Indian wickets in 10 balls to send the tourists’ innings into freefall and end with 3-20.
India lost their last nine wickets for a staggering 34 runs, all out for 136 off 19.1 overs as the White Ferns rose to the occasion on the big stage in game one of the T20 doubleheader.
Mandhana (58 off 34) was the massive wicket as she lofted Tahuhu to the deep where the long arm of Hannah Rowe clung on inside the rope. She looked like she’d misjudged it as the wind carried it further before it stuck, as White Ferns ran from everywhere to celebrate.
Tahuhu was fired up and removed two more in her fourth over to set up a charge.
The spin duo then finished it off with Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek snaring four wickets between them.
India’s star Harmanpreet Kaur was their final hope and when wicketkeeper Martin
final stumped her for 17 off Kerr the celebrations could start.
Allrounder Sophie Devine ensured New Zealand posted a competitive 159-4, continuing her scintillating T20 form with
62 off 48 balls.
Devine was second-highest runscorer behind Australian star Ellyse Perry in the justcompleted Women’s Big Bash, amassing 556 at an average of
46 and strike rate of 137 for Adelaide Strikers.
As India’s spinners again bowled slower and slower to try and stop her, Devine unleashed her power to hit six fours and two sixes.
Captain Amy Satterthwaite
(33 off 27) kept the momentum going before Martin, who missed the 2-1 ODI series defeat through work commitments, showed her value to the side.
Martin’s unbeaten 27 off 14 ensured they returned with a spring in their legs, and her energy from behind the stumps helped them finish with a flourish in a memorable victory.
For coverage of the men’s T20 match go to stuff.co.nz