Jaya Sharma stars as India Women win first one-dayer
A fine 60 from Jaya Sharma enabled India Women to chase down a modest target at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium and take a 1-0 lead against New Zealand in the five-match one-day series
Wisden Cricinfo staff
04-Dec-2003
A fine 60 from Jaya Sharma enabled India to chase down a modest target at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Earlier, India's spinners had kept the New Zealand batters on a tight leash, and only Haidee Tiffen provided much resistance in a disappointing innings.
India might have lost the toss, but they took the ascendancy from the very first ball, when Maria Fahey was trapped leg-before by Amita Sharma. The batsmen prodded on thereafter, and the innings was in dire need of some impetus when Maia Lewis, the captain, fell in the 35th over (96 for 4)
But a swift 34 - off just 35 balls - from Aimee Mason added respectability to the total and some sheen to the day's proceedings. Mamta Maben, Neetu David and Nooshin Al Khadeer finished with four wickets between them, and conceded only 104 runs in their 30 overs.
India's reply was built largely around Sharma, who hit ten fours in her well-crafted innings. Mithali Raj injected some urgency into the chase with a brisk 32, and India coasted home with 11 balls to spare.