Dubai, 5 October (Hindustan Reporter) Rosemary Mair took four wickets as New Zealand registered an impressive 58-run win over India in their first match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Dubai on Friday. Chasing the target of 161 runs, the Indian batsmen had no answer to the White Ferns' bowling and no batsman could touch the 20-run mark.
Chasing the target of 161, India got off to a bad start with Eden Carson dismissing Shefali Verma (2) and Smriti Mandhana (12 off 13 balls, two fours). The Indian team lost two wickets for only 28 runs in 4.4 overs.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was looking to solve the dilemma of India's number three position by playing a brilliant innings, was trapped LBW by Rosemary Mair after scoring 13 runs in 11 balls with the help of a four. India had lost three of its most important batsmen for 42 runs before the powerplay. At the end of the powerplay in six overs, India's score was 43/3, with Richa Ghosh (1*) and Jemimah Rodrigues (6*) unbeaten.
India crossed the 50-run mark in 7.4 overs. The Indian team failed to build a big partnership as Lee Tahuhu dismissed Rodrigues (13) and Richa Ghosh (12 from 19 balls) in quick succession. India lost 5 wickets for 70 runs in 11 overs.
After this, Arundhati Reddy was caught by Suzie Bates at extra cover for one run, this was Mair's second wicket in the match. The Indian team had lost 6 wickets for 75 runs in 12.2 overs. Lee got her third wicket by dismissing Deepti for 13 runs, while Amelia Kerr dismissed Pooja Vastrakar for just eight runs. India reached 90/8 in 15.3 overs. Mair also destroyed the rest of the batting line-up and the Indian team was all out for 102 runs in 19 overs. Mair took 4 wickets for 19 runs, while Lee Tahuhu took 3 wickets for 15 runs. Carson also took two wickets.
Earlier, after winning the toss and batting first, thanks to a brilliant half-century by captain Sophie Devine, New Zealand made a competitive score of 160 runs for 4 wickets.
New Zealand's opening batsmen Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates gave a great start to the team. New Zealand crossed the 50-run mark in just 5.4 overs.
New Zealand's score in six overs of powerplay was 55 runs without any loss. In which Plimmer contributed 30 runs and Bates contributed 19 runs.
The 67-run partnership between the two eventually ended with Reddy dismissing Bates for 27 off 24 balls, with Bates hitting two fours. Bates was caught by Shreyanka Patil at deep midwicket. After this, Asha Shobhana gave second success to India by dismissing Plimmer. Plimmer scored 34 runs in 23 balls with the help of three fours and a six. New Zealand's score in 8.1 overs was 67 runs for 2 wickets.
Amelia Kerr and captain Sophie Devine started building a partnership and at the end of 10 overs New Zealand's score reached 72/2. Although the Indian bowlers kept the ball in really good control for three-four overs, two brilliant fours from Devine in the 13th over gave the Kiwis some momentum. New Zealand's score was 99/3 in 14.2 overs.
New Zealand touched the 100-run mark in 14.4 overs. However, despite Amelia's dismissal, Sophie continued to trouble the bowlers and hit fours off Renuka and Shreyanka.
Brook Halliday opened her hands, she hit three brilliant fours off spinner Deepti Sharma in the 18th over and scored 16 runs.
Renuka broke the 46-run partnership between Devin and Halliday. Renuka got Halliday caught by Smriti. Halliday scored 16 runs in 12 balls. New Zealand's score was 145/4 in 18.4 overs.
Devine completed her fourth ICC Women's T20 World Cup half-century in 33 balls, which included seven good fours. New Zealand scored 160 runs for 4 wickets in 20 overs. Devin remained unbeaten on 57 runs in 36 balls with the help of seven fours and Maddy Green remained unbeaten on 5 runs in three balls.
Renuka took 2 wickets for 27 runs in four overs, while Shobhana and Reddy got one wicket each.