Star India batter Smriti Mandhana said it was important from the team's perspective that Harmanpreet Kaur found form ahead of the Women's World Cup and the struggling bowling unit needs to build on the performance it produced in the fifth ODI against New Zealand in Queenstown on Thursday.
Harmanpreet scored her first half century in close to 12 months to help India chase down 251 rather comfortably. Mandhana, who missed the first three ODIs due to quarantine requirements, struck 71 and skipper Mithali Raj remained unbeaten on 57.
"It has been a tough month for us as a team and for the three of us who were in quarantine (Renuka and Meghna Singh being the other two). It is good to be back in the open air, play some cricket and contribute for India," said Mandhana in the post match press conference.