By Deepak Sharma
E-mail: spacewalker008@gmail.com
Dubai, UAE – 04-10-2024: New Zealand delivered a dominant all-around performance to defeat India by 58 runs in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, with skipper Sophie Devine leading the charge both as captain and with the bat.
Devine remained unbeaten on 57, guiding the White Ferns to a challenging total of 160/4. In response, India faltered, losing wickets regularly, and were bowled out for 102 in 19 overs, handing New Zealand their first win in 11 T20 internationals.
New Zealand’s Innings: After opting to bat, New Zealand got off to a flying start. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer laid the foundation with an aggressive approach, racing to 55 without loss in the powerplay. Bates, setting the tone early, hit a boundary off the first ball of the innings. Despite India’s efforts, they struggled to capitalize on chances, with wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh missing a key catch off Bates, who went on to score 27 from 24 balls.
The breakthrough came when Bates was dismissed, followed shortly by Plimmer, who contributed a valuable 34. At 67/2, New Zealand had two new batters at the crease, but they were the experienced duo of Devine and Amelia Kerr. Kerr had a brief but eventful stint, initially ruled out while chasing a single but reprieved after the ball was called dead. She managed 13 before being caught by Pooja Vastrakar.
With Kerr’s dismissal, New Zealand’s run rate dipped slightly but soon picked up again, thanks to Devine’s commanding presence at the crease, supported by Brooke Halliday and later Maddy Green. The final three overs saw New Zealand add 37 runs to their total, finishing with a strong 160/4, setting India a tough chase.
India’s Innings: India started positively, scoring 11 in the first over, but their momentum was short-lived. Shafali Verma (2), Smriti Mandhana (5), and Harmanpreet Kaur (15) all fell in the powerplay, as off-spinner Eden Carson took two key wickets.
Jemimah Rodrigues, who had been impressive in the field, was unable to replicate her form with the bat. Trying to force the run rate, she was caught at mid-on for 13. As India’s innings collapsed, Ghosh and Arundhati Reddy gifted simple catches, leaving India at a perilous 75/6 by the 13th over.
Harleen Deol, despite being dropped once, couldn’t capitalize, contributing just 13 before Devine took an easy catch off Lea Tahuhu’s bowling. Rosemary Mair’s disciplined spell tore through the Indian lower order, as she claimed 4/19, while Tahuhu finished with 3/15. India’s chase ultimately fizzled out, with the team being bowled out for 102 in the penultimate over.
Scores in Brief:
New Zealand: 160/4 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 57*, Georgia Plimmer 34; Renuka Singh Thakur 2/27)
India: 102 all out in 19 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 15, Jemimah Rodrigues 13; Rosemary Mair 4/19, Lea Tahuhu 3/15)
Result: New Zealand won by 58 runs.
