Team India have faced yet another defeat to New Zealand in the rain-affected fourth ODI. After having been selected to field first, they failed to restrict New Zealand within a below-par as the hosts posted a huge total of 191 after 20 overs. For India, it was Richa Ghosh who made headlines with her fastest ODI fifty.
For New Zealand, openers Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine made the foundation with 53 runs within 6 overs. Later, Amy Satterthwaite and Amelia Kerr set the stage on fire where the latter smacked a quickfire 68* off 33 with 11 fours and a six. Their swashbuckling knocks helped them post a mammoth total as well.
While chasing, India openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who returned to the squad in today’s game, were seen struggling. While Verma got out on a duck, Yastika Bhatia was no different. And, Mandhana too got out for 13, leaving India struggling at 19 for 4 within 5 overs. However, Richa Ghosh came in and started taking the opponents from the beginning.
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She, along with captain Mithali Raj added 77 runs where Richa Ghosh took the charge. Raj happily played the second fiddle whereas the youngster didn’t give them time to settle down in the middle. She hit 4 boundaries and 4 sixes and eventually scored the fastest ODI fifty for India which came in just 26 balls. But she could only manage 52 runs as Amelia Kerr took a stunner and sent her in.
Here is how Twitterati reacted to the knock of Richa Ghosh:
Richa Ghosh brings up the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in Women's ODI 🔥
She needed just 26 balls to reach the milestone 👏
Watch all the #NZvIND action LIVE or on-demand on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v (in select regions) 📺 pic.twitter.com/ad34maGg4A
— ICC (@ICC) February 22, 2022
Stellar response from Richa Ghosh on behalf of the Association of Siliguri Wicketkeepers.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 22, 2022
🚨RECORD ALERT!!🚨
Fastest ODI fifty by Indian Players in Women's ODIs:
26 balls – Richa Ghosh v NZ, (Today)
32 balls – Veda Krishnamurthy v SA, 2018
33 balls – Sabbhineni Meghana v NZ, 2022
34 balls – Veda Krishnamurthy v NZ, 2017#NZvIND #CricketTwitter— CricTelegraph (@CricTelegraph) February 22, 2022
Fastest ever fifty in women's ODI by an Indian – Richa Ghosh just the 18 year old holds the record now. pic.twitter.com/6Ms95pqEap
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 22, 2022
5️⃣0️⃣ in just 2️⃣6️⃣ deliveries 🤯
Richa Ghosh has just scored the fastest half-century in women's ODI's for #TeamIndia 🙌
What a knock it was! 🔥#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians @13richaghosh @BCCI pic.twitter.com/yofVtrLuqx
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 22, 2022
Richa Ghosh has single handedly made my day better. 😍#NZvIND
— The Cricket Philosopher (@outof22yards) February 22, 2022
Had called it in March 2021. Richa Ghosh will be India's LOI wk for next 15 yrs, I feel
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) February 22, 2022
Richa Ghosh can hit bigger sixes than Kohli. I’m not even kidding. She’s too good.
— ✨ (@Kourageous7) February 22, 2022
Total sixes recorded by Indian wicketkeepers in Women's ODIs:
Richa Ghosh this innings – 4
All others combined total – 4#INDvNZ— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) February 22, 2022
Brilliant 50 from Richa Ghosh. To come in at 19/4 after 4.4 overs and score runs at 11+ per over, is a freak effort. Absolutely magnificent.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) February 22, 2022
After the win, Sophie Devine said: “It was another complete performance from us. With the bat, we showed real intent. Good experience (shortened game) with the World Cup coming up. It was a great opportunity for us. The batters played to their strengths. 191 was probably above-par. The fielding is an area where we’ve missed a few, that’s an area where we can probably save another 10-15 runs. With the bowling, at times, we have been slow to change our plans. We have to adapt quicker. I had belief in this group forever, nice to see people are seeing that. We are seeing the results now, there’s real confidence and belief. It’s perfect timing with the World Cup just around the corner.”
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After the loss, Mithali Raj said: “We have definitely been trying few compositions with our spin and seam attack. But to be honest the bowling is a bit of a concern before the World Cup. We want all our main bowlers to get their rhythm. We are adapting to the conditions but there are spells where the bowlers have bowled well but we are not consistent and it is something that we are looking to improve. I was just looking at the shots and the way she (Richa) went about her batting, she is very talented and the future for India.”
