IND Women vs NZ Women, 1st ODI at Ahmedabad, IND Women vs NZ Women, Oct 24 2024 - Match Result

8:50pm That will be all from us for tonight. India go 1-0 up and on Sunday, they will have the chance to seal the series at the first time of asking. There is lots of cricket in store tomorrow as well, across the globe and all of it can be followed on ESPNcricinfo. We hope you enjoyed our coverage today and hope to see you again super soon. Until then, this is goodbye from Chandan, Sudarshanan, Thilak and myself. Take care!

Deepti Sharma, Player of the Match: It is important how you start because it sets the tone. I had belief in myself, whether it was bowling in the powerplay or when I was batting. We talked about not thinking about the total, and were just focusing on bowling in partnerships. (On the Devine run-out) It was not a lot. I thought she was outside her crease, so I felt throwing it (to Yastika) was a good option.

Smriti Mandhana, India captain: It has been a tough 1.5-2 months, so nice to start off with a win. If you don't believe in cricket, you wont be able to do it. We had a talk that we were under-par but if we field well, we could add 20-30 runs. Saima set the tone for us with Suzie's wicket. (On Saima Thakor) Brilliant. She has been around with us (for the past couple of months). She has been brilliant throughout and we have seen her work really hard. Really happy for her and hope this is just the start for her. Whoever batted today, we asked them what is the right length. Deepti is a superstar - she knows what to do. Radha also came in (and bowled well), Hemalatha also chipped in.

Sophie Devine, New Zealand captain: We did a fantastic job of restricting them. It was a good cricket wicket, we thought 260-270 was par. We were confident at the innings break but when you lose wickets consistently, it is difficult (to chase). All the bowlers did a good job of pegging them back. The way they (India) started, it was looking like we would chase 350-400. She (Amelia Kerr) has a bit of a tight quad, she will rest up and get a couple of scans done. Hopefully she will be alright. Any time we put on the Silver Fern, we expect better of us and we will hit the ground running on Sunday.

Saima Thakor: I have been very patient, the team is amazing. That is the secret. It was a flat wicket honestly. It was a batter's paradise. But we did really well as a bowling group and luckily, it (the result) came into our favour. It was like a dream, I was visualizing that delivery last night. (On receiving her India cap) Jemi spoke a lot and she has seen me through my journey. I could not ask for someone better to present me my cap. Too many emotions and we have that connection and bond, glad I got the cap from her.

8:22pm Well, that was a hasty conclusion. Amelia, battling injury, came to bat very late and by then, New Zealand only had a handful of wickets left. As it turned out, it only took India five balls to wipe out the last two wickets, with a major helping hand from the visitors. But the victory was set in motion much before.

Saima, on debut, removed Bates early, with Plimmer also falling inside the powerplay. Devine was then run-out in rather bizarre circumstances and that propelled India into the ascendancy, which was threatened when Green and Halliday were together, although the hosts, when they got the chance, dismissed them in quick succession to leave Amelia and the lower order with too much to do.

As for the wickets, Radha picked up three, with Saima bagging two. Reddy and Deepti also got themselves on the board in an innings that also included three run-outs, the last being a proper deer in the headlights moment for the White Ferns.

Carson is the last batter in. New Zealand still need 60 off 57. Amelia or nothing now for them, you'd assume. Slip in place

Hello everyone. Radha to bowl. NZ still in it, as long as Amelia Kerr is out there

Ten overs left. Kerr stands between India and a win. Shashwat back for the final rites

Molly Penfold is the penultimate New Zealand batter

Reddy now

The required rate has shot but above six now...

The landing area in focus now. Renuka does not seem to be happy with it