After a disappointing Women’s T20 World Cup, India Women started the WODI series against New Zealand Women strongly. In the chase, India Women brilliantly dismissed the New Zealand Women skipper Sophie Devine as Deepti Sharma and wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia jointly worked impressively to create a bizarre run out. 

Smriti Mandhana led India team

In the absence of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana led the Indian women’s team in the first game of the three-match WODI series. After Mandhana won the toss at Ahmedabad, she chose to bat first. India Women scored 227 runs before losing all wickets in 44.3 overs.

In reply, the debutant and right-arm pacer Saima Thakor dismissed the opener Suzie Bates (1) in her first over.    

After dismissing the opener and in-form Georgia Plimmer (25) in the last over of the first powerplay, Deepti Sharma stunned with a brilliant run out in her next over. 

Sophie Devine's bizarre run out

Captain Sophie Devine just came to the crease, who is known to play brilliantly against the spinners. It was the 12th over of the second innings when the visitors were approaching towards the 50 runs. 

On the final ball of the 12th over, Devine played a defensive shot as the ball travelled toward the bowler. Observing the White Ferns skipper was outside the crease, first Sharma waited and then rightly threw the ball towards the keeper Bhatia, who quickly took off the bails. Although Devine was aware of the situation, she wasn’t careful enough. Devine’s foot was on the line, and when her foot crossed the crease, it was too late for her.

Sharp presence of mind produces a big wicket!👌👌

New Zealand lose their third in the chase as Sophie Devine is run-out.

Live - https://t.co/VGGT7lSS13#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/gvANXADVkA

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 24, 2024

It was a huge wicket for the Indian team as the White Ferns were suddenly struggling at 46/3. 

Devine is the fourth leading run-scorer for New Zealand Women in the WODI format. In 148 WODIs, the right-handed batter scored 3862 runs with an average of 31.65, including eight centuries and 15 half-centuries. 

Mumbai Indians put an all-round performance to beat Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 match here at DY Patil Sports Academy on Thursday. Yastika Bhatia scored the highest with 41 runs as Mumbai Indians chased down a target of 106 runs in 15 overs while Hayley Matthews slammed 32 and Nat Sciver-Brunt scored an unbeaten 23. For Delhi Capitals, Alice Capsey and Tara Norris bagged one wicket each.

Chasing a target of 106, Mumbai Indians got off to a flying start as their openers Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia blasted Delhi bowlers all around the ground. Matthews slammed Shikha Pandey for back-to-back three boundaries. The duo of Yastika and Matthews kept piling runs at a blistering pace and brought up team’s fifty in 7th over of the game. After 10 over, Delhi Capital’s score read 58/3. Meg Lanning then shifted gears and slammed back-to-back three fours in Amelia Kerr’s over, gathering 14 runs.

Mumbai Indians defeat Delhi Capitals by massive 8 wickets

Tara Norris gave Mumbai a big blow as she removed Yastika for 41 in the 9th over of the game. Matthews then lost her wicket to Alice Capsey after scoring 32 runs. Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur handled the change as they kept piling runs while slamming boundaries. On the 15th over last ball, Sciver-Brunt slammed a stunning four to guide Mumbai Indians home with an 8-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals. Earlier, superb spells by Saika Ishaque, Issy Wong and Hayley Matthews helped Mumbai Indians bundle out Delhi Capitals of 105 in 18 overs.

Matthews, Ishaque and Wong bagged three-wicket hauls respectively while Pooja Vastrakar claimed one. For Delhi Capitals, Meg Lanning scored the highest with 43 while Jemimah Rodrigues slammed 25 runs. Put to field first, Saika Ishaque drew first blood as she removed opener Shafali Verma for 2 in the 2nd over of the game. The right-handed batter Alice Capsey then came out to bat but the batter failed to score big as she returned after scoring just 6 runs. Issy Wong took her first wicket of the match, dismissing Marizanne Kapp for just 2 runs. Jemimah Rodrigues then came out to bat and handled the charge as she slammed 13 runs off Nat Sciver-Brunt’s over with the help of three boundaries.