New Zealand Women Crush India Women by 58 Runs in Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Opener
In a high-stakes clash at the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, New Zealand Women outclassed India Women by 58 runs in their Group A opener in Dubai. The match, held on October 4, saw New Zealand set a challenging target of 160/4 in their 20 overs, while India crumbled under pressure, managing only 102 runs in 19 overs.
New Zealand’s Solid Start: Sophie Devine Leads the Charge
After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine chose to bat first on a relatively slow wicket. The decision paid off as openers Suzie Bates (27 off 24 balls) and Georgia Plimmer (34 off 23) provided an excellent start, putting up a 67-run opening stand
India’s Renuka Singh managed to break the partnership by dismissing Bates in the eighth over, and Plimmer followed soon after, falling to Asha Sobhana.
Despite a slowdown in the middle overs, Sophie Devine played a captain's knock, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 57 off 36 balls. Her composed approach, laced with seven boundaries, gave New Zealand the momentum they needed to post a strong total. Brooke Halliday chipped in with a crucial 16 off 12 deliveries, helping push New Zealand’s score to 160/4
Renuka Singh was the pick of the bowlers for India, taking 2/27 in her four overs, while Asha Sobhana grabbed a key wicket of Georgia Plimmer
India’s Struggle with the Bat
Chasing 161, India Women had a shaky start right from the powerplay. Shafali Verma’s poor form continued as she was dismissed early, scoring just 2 off 4 balls. Smriti Mandhana (12) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (15) tried to stabilize the innings but couldn't build a strong partnership. New Zealand's Eden Carson took two crucial wickets in quick succession, putting India on the back foot
By the end of the powerplay, India had managed only 43/3, and the middle-order batsmen failed to rescue the sinking ship. Jemimah Rodrigues (13), Richa Ghosh (12), and Deepti Sharma (13) got starts but couldn’t convert them into match-winning performances. With the run rate climbing, India found themselves losing wickets regularly
Rosemary Mair was exceptional with the ball for New Zealand, taking 4/19, while Lea Tahuhu’s spell of 3/15 further crippled India’s chase. Pooja Vastrakar hit India’s first boundary after the powerplay in the 14th over, but it was too late as India folded for 102
Captain’s Reactions
Sophie Devine was ecstatic with her team’s performance, especially praising the platform set by her openers and the clinical bowling display. She credited the entire team for sticking to the game plan and delivering under pressure
On the other hand, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that the team did not play their best cricket. She emphasized the need to reflect on the mistakes made and regroup ahead of their next game against Pakistan. Harmanpreet acknowledged that chasing 160 was always going to be a tough challenge but lamented the team’s inability to build partnerships
What’s Next?
India will face Pakistan in their next Group A match on Sunday, October 6, 2024. With this heavy defeat, India will not only be aiming for a win but also looking to improve their net run rate to stay in contention for a semi-final spot Meanwhile, New Zealand’s win sets them on a strong course for the tournament, with momentum on their side as they continue their World Cup campaign.
Match Summary:
- New Zealand Women: 160/4 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 57*, Georgia Plimmer 34; Renuka Singh 2/27)
- India Women: 102/10 in 19 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 15, Smriti Mandhana 12; Rosemary Mair 4/19, Lea Tahuhu 3/15)
- Result: New Zealand Women won by 58 runs
This defeat serves as a wake-up call for India Women, who entered the tournament as strong contenders. With two more group matches to go, the team will need to regroup and come out stronger in their next clash.
