India’s Deepti Sharma demonstrated remarkable presence of mind to dismiss Sophie Devine with a clever run-out during the first ODI against New Zealand on Thursday (October 24). Devine, known for her quick scoring and aggressive style, was caught off-guard in the 12th over when she failed to return to her crease after defending a delivery back to the bowler. Deepti capitalized on the momentary lapse, delivering a game-changing moment that underlined her keen awareness and strategic thinking.
Deepti Sharma’s smart run-out of Sophie Devine
In a pivotal moment of the 12th over, Deepti executed a crafty run-out that dismissed New Zealand’s Devine in a manner rarely seen in ODIs. Bowling a fuller-length delivery, Deepti watched as Devine defended it back toward her, stepping slightly out of the crease and momentarily forgetting her ground. Observing Devine’s casual response, Deepti initially held the ball but, with quick reflexes, immediately sent it to wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia upon noticing Devine hadn’t stepped back in. Bhatia swiftly dislodged the bails, and replays confirmed that Devine’s foot hadn’t returned to safety. This dismissal, delivered through sheer alertness, removed a dangerous player in Devine and provided India a vital breakthrough.
Here’s the video:
Sharp presence of mind produces a big wicket!👌👌
New Zealand lose their third in the chase as Sophie Devine is run-out.
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India’s batting struggles after opting to bat
Choosing to bat first, India posted a total of 227 runs, falling short of capitalizing fully on their opportunity. While Tejal Hasabnis top-scored with a solid 42, Deepti also contributed meaningfully with 41, offering a late partnership that slightly lifted India’s total. Yastika Bhatia (37) and Jemimah Rodrigues (35) managed starts but couldn’t translate them into substantial scores. New Zealand’s bowling was led by Amelia Kerr, who took four key wickets and kept the pressure on throughout. Jess Kerr (3 wickets) and Eden Carson (2 wickets) also proved effective, limiting India’s momentum and keeping their score manageable.
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New Zealand’s struggle in the chase
New Zealand faced a tough challenge chasing India’s total of 227, eventually falling short by 59 runs. The early loss of Suzie Bates in the second over set the tone for a difficult innings. Georgia Plimmer and Lauren Down attempted to stabilize the innings with respective scores of 25 and 26, but New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Devine’s run-out, due to Deepti alertness, further added pressure. Brooke Halliday’s 39 and Maddy Green’s 31 offered hope, yet India’s consistent breakthroughs, especially from Radha Yadav, kept the chase in check. New Zealand were bowled out for 168 in 40.4 overs, as India capitalized on their fielding and bowling to secure victory.
Also READ: Deepti Sharma’s all-round performance helps India beat New Zealand in 1st ODI
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.