Women's World Cup: Jhulan Goswami equals world record, Pooja Vastrakar shines as India restrict New Zealand to 260

Women's World Cup 2022: While Jhulan Goswami equalled the record for most wickets at World Cups, Pooja Vastrakar picked up 4 wickets to help India restrict New Zealand to 260/9 in 50 overs in their second league match in Hamilton.

Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami equalled the World Cup record for the most wickets as India managed to restrict hosts New Zealand to 260 in 50 overs in their second league match at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday. Jhulan bowled a perfect Yorker to dismiss Katey Martin in the final over of the New Zealand innings to pick up her 39th wicket at the World Cups.

With the strike, Jhulan equalled the record held by Australia's Lyn Fulltston who picked up 39 wickets in World Cups between 1982 and 1988. The senior fast bowler bowled 9 overs and gave away just 41 runs in another fine performance at the Women's World Cup.

The star of India's bowling performance on Thursday was young Pooja Vastrakar who was hurling down yorkers at will. Vastrakar nearly took a hat-trick, when she removed Lia Tahuhu and Jess Kerr with two back-to-back yorkers in the 46th over, taking the sting out of New Zealand's batting unit in the late overs.

Pooja Vastrakar was switched on right from the start as she ran out opener Suzie Bates with a direct hit as early as the 3rd over for 5. She missed a simple catching opportunity to dismiss Amelia Kerr in the 10th over but got the big wicket of captain Sophie Devine (35) in the 11th over to make the seasoned New Zealand openers did not go on to get a big score.

Innings Break!A solid performance with the ball by #TeamIndia !4 wickets for @Vastrakarp252 wickets for Rajeshwari Gayakwad1 wicket each for @JhulanG10 & @Deepti_Sharma06Over to our batters now.Scorecard https://t.co/zZzFTtBxPb#CWC22 | #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/0lqxUpjb8y

3/34: VASTRAKAR DELIVERS WITH THE BALL

Vastrakar also got the big wicket of Amy Satterthwaite (75 off 84 balls) in the 43rd over, getting the crucial breakthrough just when the star batter was looking to go big and get a hundred.