Indian eves down Kiwis

Trailing 0-2 in the five-match one-day series, the India women scrapped to a three-wicket victory in a must-win game against New Zealand at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Thursday.

Set a modest target of 185, Anjum Chopra top-scored with 60 and, with some useful contributions from the tail, guided the visitors to a three-wicket win.

The Indians began their run chase on a disastrous note, losing both their openers, Karuna Jain and Jaya Sharma, for ducks. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals despite Chopra's knock, and at 115 for six India were looking at their third defeat in a row.

Reema Malhotra and Jhulan Goswami then got together in a crucial 65-run stand which sealed the game with 10 balls to spare. Goswami was finally dismissed for 25, but Malhotra remained not out on 36.

Earlier, batting first, the hosts too began terribly, losing five wickets with only 13 on the board and it seemed India would win in a canter.

Goswami (2/28) and Rumeli Dhar (3/33) did all the damage, before Emily Drumm (94 not out) found an able partner in Nicola Browne, who made 51.

The two put together 107 for the sixth wicket to take New Zealand towards a respectable total.

Aimee Mason helped further prop up the total with a quick 25 off 27 balls.

New Zealand lead the series 2-1 with two matches remaining to be played on March 11 and 13.