NZ Women vs India (W), 5th ODI at Queenstown, NZ-W v IND-W, Feb 24 2022 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That's it for this series. We will be there for the World Cup which is the next big event on the women's calendar. Hope you have enjoyed the coverage. Thanks for the feedback and do keep them coming in. On behalf of Sudarshanan and our score Vairavan, this is me signing off from here. Until next time take care and be well. See you soon!

Devine collects the KFC Trophy and the team joins in to celebrate. The White Ferns are all smiles as they pose for the photographs. They have been the superior team and fiffingly win the series 4-1. Remember they won the lone T20I as well. So a great end to their summer before the World Cup starts in a few days' time. Meanwhile India will be happy to get a win and go into the big tournament with confidence. Certainly they look a stronger unit with Mandhana back.

Sophie Devine: Disappointing. We were 10-15 short, in the field we were let-down. We put down 4-5 chances. It's a different game when we take those. The girls have been working extremely hard over the last 12-24 months, they are little things we need to tweak on but impressed with how we have won the series. Everyone has stepped up when given an opportunity. We are in a very good space going into the World Cup. There's extra pressure playing at home but also a real advantage playing at home. We are familiar with conditions, we have got confidence on the back of a lot of cricket this summer and really looking forward to playing in a home World Cup. We know the players have always had the skill to do it. Amelia has been outstanding this series and she has been exceptional and we have missed her when she has not been there. Even Hayley Jensen was fantastic today, the way she came late in the order and struck the ball. There's talent throughout this side. A few niggles and we have to look at our squad before our first game against West Indies. We want to take something out of those warm-up games particularly against Pakistan who we have not played in a while and against Australia. How we use those matches I'm not too sure, we will have to see how the body pulls up after today but it is another opportunity to get out there and play cricket for this country. The weather has been outstanding - it only rains on non-match days or training days. That's perfect. Everyone here at Queenstown has been outstanding and we love playing here. The groundstaff have done a tremendous job to play 5 games in this ODI series where all scoring over 250 is a credit to them.

Mithali Raj: We have improved over the three-four games and that is a good sign going into the World Cup winning the last game. It is important to have the right preparation before the big tournament. Unfortunately we could not get the camps going in India due to the cases rising. Getting in games has been a good prep before the World Cup. Even though the wickets seemed to be more batting-friendly, it is a challenge for the bowlers to bowl a tight line and length and they really bowled well today. Our focus will be doing well in all three departments. But something which is very important is to work on our fielding as a unit. When I retire, I will see that the team is far more stronger than what it has been. It's good to see a lot of bright talent who will be the match-winners in the coming years. I have enjoyed it and thanks to the New Zealand board for giving us the opportunity to go around this beautiful town.

Kerr: It has been awesome. I have loved it with the group here in Queenstown. Everybody in the team has performed well and we are looking forward to the World Cup. For us it's not about getting too far ahead, one game at a time and that will be the same for the World Cup as well. Keeping the same processes, play the ball on its merit and with the ball getting my back leg through and getting in the fight - that's when I bowl at my best. I don't think it's too tough at all. I have done it my whole life as a kid growing up. Just at the international level it's the same. When I'm batting I'm batting, when I'm bowling I'm bowling. As a group we are heading in the right direction, we have a lot of confidence in ourselves and each other as team-mates - I think we have not fielded as well as we would've liked throughout this series and we know how good we are as a fielding group. If we can work on that, that could save us 20-30 runs each game.

Amelia Kerr is the Player of the Series for her outstanding allround contributions. 353 runs, 7 wickets and 9 catches to Amelia in the series.

Mandhana: I think our bowlers did a fantastic job by restricting them to 250. The wicket was good to bat and all the batting unit contributed amazingly - me, Harry di and Mithali di. Initially first 10-15 balls was difficult, I forgot how to bat. The more time I spent on the wicket I got used to it. I'm happy that I found a little bit of nick before the World Cup. This series was a big advantage to the whole team. Half of this team has been here before in 2019 and that will be a big advantage going into the World Cup. All the girls are feeling confident and we will take this momentum from the win into the World Cup.

Smriti Mandhana is the Player of the Match.

Rahul: "Harmanpreet played well today but don't let the score make you forget that she got dropped,consistently picked the wrong shot options for balls. I think she's a T20 only player. Doesn't have the patience needed for the longer formats"

Sharat Verma: "@Ribhav, Very astonishing stat for Kaur. But being a senior player she'll definitely get few more chances to prove herself after this survival knock from her."

Paul: "3rd half century for Mithali this series each with strike rate of 80"

CJenR: "In a big stage as world cup, experience is required to calm the nerves and the international exposure is important. People who played in the WBBL and the Hundred should have been encouraged and supported to get in form. One month before the WC is not the time to juggle players. Jemimah and Harmanpreet should be in the squad! That's it."

5.42pm: India avoid the whitewash with a good win. It was set up at the top by Smriti Mandhana who again showed her value to this side. When she is back at the top of the order, suddenly the batting looks far more dangerous. Even though she could not convert her fifty into a hundred, she set the platform. Harmanpreet made a welcome return to form with a fifty which was attacking and Mithali did what she does so well - taking her time and steering the side home with yet another fifty. New Zealand were powerless to prevent India from chasing down 252 on a good batting wicket. Their fielding was poor as they dropped catches which should've been taken. A morale-boosting win for the Indians ahead of the Cricket World Cup. Stay tuned for the presentation..

Rahul: "If I had it my way, India would play S Meghana and Pooja Vatsrakar. I'd even venture to suggest S Meghana for Shafali Verma, Vatsrakar for Harmanpreet Kaur.Might seem rash but I think that the newcomers can give you a better average with the bat than the incumbents. Think about it."

Ribhav Bansal: "Stat Alert : This is the highest ODI score Harmanpreet Kaur has scored since her 171* against Aus in the 2017 WC semi final in almost 5 years."