Discover how Devine’s heroics and New Zealand’s pace attack secured a 58-run victory over India in the Women’s T20 World Cup. Read more for insights.
Introduction:
New Zealand women’s cricket team began its campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup with a bang-thumping victory over the pre-tournament favourite India by 58 runs. The victory not only broke New Zealand’s 10-match losing streak in T20Is but also set the tone for its tournament aspirations. It has been an all-round performance led by Sophie Devine, Rosemary Mair, and Lea Tahuhu as New Zealand easily defended 160 for 4 by bowling out India for a mere 102.
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New Zealand announced their intentions when asked to bat first, as New Zealand launched an imposing total in a contest that will be solely for pride. Openers Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates got the innings off to a brisk start, Bates looking the experience of the two as she smashed two boundaries early on. But it was the captain and vice-captain who really dominated the innings. Coming into the tournament in somewhat indifferent form, it was Devine who turned the tables for her critics by going unbeaten off 36 balls, reminding everyone of her match-winning capability.
After India applied some pressure in the middle overs, Devine’s counterattack became crucial. She punished Indian bowlers S Asha and Renuka Singh with consecutive boundaries, bringing up her half-century in style. Devine’s knock, along with a key 46-run partnership with Brooke Halliday, helped New Zealand finish strongly with 160 on the board.
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India’s Early Struggles and Middle-Order Collapse
India, in pursuit of a competitive total of 161, never looked settled against New Zealand’s well-disciplined bowling attack. Legspinner Eden Carson, on her ODI debut, dealt a massive blow to India by dismissing both openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, within the space of three overs. The pressure mounted with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur falling cheaply for 15 inside the powerplay-the first time she has batted at No. 3 since October 2019.
Having lost their top-order wickets in the powerplay, the Indian middle-order was caught out in the open by New Zealand. It was Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh who tried to nurse India out of trouble but against the pace and swing of Rosemary Mair, who did a trail of destruction all the way through India’s lineup with four wickets, and three wickets by Lea Tahuhu, India never really recovered from the early blows that they received.
The Devine Show: A True Captain’s Knock
For New Zealand, Sophie Devine was the innings-wright. Though she had had a poor start to the year with the bat, Devine proved to be the perfect answer to what might have otherwise been an embarrassing defeat in the opener of the World Cup. She had 57 not out, full of crisp boundaries and smart running between the wickets. And she showed her malleability, just when necessary, anchoring and then accelerating. Devine’s innings not only handed New Zealand a good total but also broke the Indians’ bowling unit, for which she has been viewed as one of the best in the world.
Plimmer and Bates Save the Day Early
Plimmer and Bates laid the perfect groundwork for New Zealand. Plimmer, who was just off her maiden T20I half-century, attacked India’s Deepti Sharma with aggressive stroke play, which included a towering six over long-on. Bates looked in fine form too, capitalizing on some poor fielding from India. Together they took New Zealand to 55 for no loss at the end of the powerplay.
India’s Strategic Blunders Prove Costly
India decided to play all three pacers for the first time this season in a T20I, a decision it made while including Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, and Arundhati Reddy in its playing XI. The tactical switch, though, ended in disaster as New Zealand’s batters made amends for their tentatively modest approach by milking the pace on offer. Including the left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who had scalped the second most wickets for India this year, was another disastrous move. India just didn’t have an answer to New Zealand’s hard-hitting approach.
Furthermore, re-juggling the batting order, bringing in Harmanpreet Kaur to bat at No. 3 was only to the middle-order’s detriment when the top-orders’ wickets fell in a flash, and the lower order of India crumbled under pressure since they had planned to go into the match short of one batter.
Drain-time Moment: The Run-Out That Never Was
There was another drama moment in the match due to controversy, with India thinking that they have run out Amelia Kerr in the 14th over and even Kerr has started walking back to the pavilion. The fourth umpire intervened and after some time in play, he declared that the ball was dead and hence declared Kerr not run out. This brought further frustration for India in the end but did not alter the result.
Conclusion: New Zealand: A Well-Rounded Win
This comprehensive 58-run win for New Zealand marks a good turn of fortune for Sophie Devine’s team. Batting fires on all cylinders and the bowling attack spearheaded by Mair and Tahuhu taking apart the Indians, New Zealand’s T20 World Cup has started off quite well. India, to their credit, will need to introspect the team selections and the executions that went wrong for them as they prepare to take on their next matches.