India Women vs New Zealand Women | Highlights | 1st ODI | Amazon Prime Video
Presenting highlights from the 1st ODI cricket match between New Zealand women and India women. Watch Now Match-Replays, …
India Women vs New Zealand Women | Highlights of the 1st ODI: A Historic Stream on Amazon Prime Video
The clash between the Indian Women’s cricket team (the Women in Blue) and the New Zealand Women’s team (the White Ferns) has consistently provided thrilling One-Day International (ODI) action. The 1st ODI of India’s tour of New Zealand in February 2022 was particularly significant, not just for the cricket played on the field but also for its groundbreaking broadcast: it marked a major milestone as an exclusive live offering for cricket fans in India on Amazon Prime Video.
Played at the scenic John Davies Oval in Queenstown, the opening match of the five-ODI series was a high-scoring affair that ultimately saw the White Ferns register a decisive victory. This article looks back at the key moments, star performances, and the historical context of the broadcast that brought the action to millions of screens.
The Historical Significance of the Broadcast
The India Women vs New Zealand Women series in 2022 was a landmark moment for live sports streaming in India. Amazon Prime Video, primarily known for its web series and movies, made its major foray into live cricket broadcasting by exclusively acquiring the India territory rights for all international cricket matches played in New Zealand until the 2025-2026 season.
By making the Women in Blue’s tour its first exclusive international cricket offering, the platform demonstrated a significant commitment to women’s cricket. This partnership with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) was heralded as a major step in taking women’s cricket to a larger, more mainstream audience in one of the sport’s biggest markets.
As Chaitanya Divan, Head of Prime Video Channels & Sports, Amazon Prime Video India, noted, the campaign for the series was designed to showcase the “exciting brand of cricket played by the Women in Blue,” emphasizing that the game itself is paramount.
Match Summary: New Zealand’s Dominance
The 1st ODI, played on February 11, 2022, set the tone for the series with New Zealand emerging victorious by 62 runs.
New Zealand Innings: The Suzie Bates Show
After being asked to bat first, the White Ferns capitalised on their home conditions to post a formidable total of 275 before being bowled out in 48.1 overs.
The innings was anchored by a magnificent performance from veteran opener Suzie Bates, who scored a commanding century.
- Suzie Bates (106 off 111 balls): Her classy knock, featuring nine boundaries, laid the perfect foundation, propelling New Zealand past the 250-mark. Her partnership with Amelia Kerr was crucial in building a big total.
- India’s Bowling Effort: Despite a challenging total, the Indian bowlers showed resilience. Pooja Vastrakar provided key breakthroughs, being the pick of the bowlers.
- Jhulan Goswami and Rajeshwari Gayakwad also bowled with discipline to try and contain the flow of runs in the middle overs.
India’s Chase: Mithali Raj’s Lone Fight
Chasing 276 for victory, India’s innings got off to a difficult start, losing early wickets, which immediately put the chase under pressure.
- Early Trouble: The loss of key top-order batters meant the required run rate quickly climbed, making the task increasingly difficult.
- Mithali Raj’s Milestones: Despite the pressure, Captain Mithali Raj played a classic captain’s knock. She scored a patient 59 off 73 balls, which included six boundaries. Her innings was a demonstration of her experience and technique under duress.
- With this half-century, Raj continued her excellent form, having scored seven fifties in her last eleven ODI innings at the time.
- The knock also saw her become the first Indian to reach 1,000 Women’s ODI runs against New Zealand, and she joined Charlotte Edwards in making 1,000 runs against four different teams in ODI cricket.
- Support Act: She received support from the young Yastika Bhatia, who contributed a steady 41 off 63 balls, with the duo adding a vital 88-run partnership for the third wicket.
- Collapse: Once the partnership was broken, the rest of the Indian middle and lower order struggled to sustain the momentum. The team was eventually bowled out for 213 in 49.4 overs, falling short by 62 runs.
The match highlighted the difference in performance on the day, with New Zealand’s top-order brilliance setting a total that proved too steep for the Indian batting line-up, despite the veteran Mithali Raj’s valiant effort.
The Highlight Experience on Prime Video
For subscribers, Amazon Prime Video’s coverage went beyond just the live stream. The platform provided an “engaging and immersive experience” for cricket fans.
Key features of the coverage included:
- Live Stream: Exclusive, high-definition streaming of the entire match.
- Match Replays: Full match replays available on-demand for those who missed the early morning start time in India (3:30 a.m. IST).
- Highlights Package: Comprehensive highlights, including match highlights, fall of wickets, and top 10 shots, were made available shortly after the game’s conclusion. This allowed viewers to quickly catch up on the best moments of the action.
The successful broadcast of the 1st ODI not only served as a critical starting point for Amazon Prime Video’s journey in live sports in India but also put a prominent spotlight on the quality and excitement of international women’s cricket.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q1: What was the result of the India Women vs New Zealand Women 1st ODI on Amazon Prime Video?
A: New Zealand Women won the 1st ODI of the 2022 tour by 62 runs. New Zealand scored 275 all out, and India was bowled out for 213 in the chase.
Q2: Who were the top performers in the India Women vs New Zealand Women 1st ODI in 2022?
A: The standout performer was New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who scored a magnificent century (106 runs off 111 balls). For India, Captain Mithali Raj top-scored with a determined half-century (59 runs off 73 balls).
Q3: Why was the Amazon Prime Video stream of the 1st ODI significant for Indian cricket fans?
A: The India Women vs New Zealand Women 2022 series was highly significant because it was the first international cricket series featuring an Indian team to be streamed live and exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in India, marking the platform’s major entry into live sports in the country.
Q4: When and where was the 1st ODI of the India Women’s Tour of New Zealand 2022 played?
A: The 1st ODI was played on February 11, 2022, at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown, New Zealand.
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