India felt the absence of experienced pacer Jhulan Goswami as they failed to defend an imposing 270 to go down by three wickets in the second women’s ODI against New Zealand here on Tuesday.

The loss meant that the visitors now trail 0-2 in the five-match series. Deepti Sharma took 4/52 while her spin colleagues Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Harmanpreet Kaur took a wicket apiece.

But India failed in the pace department with Pooja Vastrakar and debutant Simran Bahadur leaking runs without taking any wicket. Indian batters rose to the occasion to set a stiff target of 271. Mithali Raj made 66 with Siliguri girl Richa Sharma notching up 65.

But Amelia Kerr made the difference with her unbeaten 119 as New Zealand surpassed the target with one over to spare by reaching 273/7. The Indian bowlers lost the plot in the middle overs when they allowed Amelia and Maddy Green (52) to stitch a 128-run stand from 24.4 overs for the fourth wicket.

Brief scores: India Women 270/6 (M. Raj 66, R. Ghosh 65). NZ Women: 273/7 (A. Kerr 119 n.o, M. Green 52; D. Sharma 4/52). NZ Women won by 3 wickets.