Batting first, New Zealand scored 155 for five in 20 overs.
queenstown, Due to the disappointing performance of their batsmen, the Indian women’s cricket team (India W vs New Zealand W) suffered an 18-run defeat in the only T20 match at the start of the tour of New Zealand.
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A replay of the T20I is available on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v (in select regions) https://t.co/7qnsN1kLDW pic.twitter.com/FJpRlTg11r
— ICC (@ICC) February 9, 2022
The lack of senior opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was felt by the team which did not play this match. Chasing a target of 156 runs for victory, the Indian team was left behind by 18 runs. Yastika Bhatia, who opened the innings in place of Mandhana, made 26 off 26 balls but the New Zealand bowlers quickly built up the pressure. Bhatia and Shefali Verma took 4 for the first wicket. Added 41 runs in 1 over, which was the biggest partnership for India.
Shefali scored 13 runs in 14 balls. At the same time, captain Harmanpreet Kaur was also not in form, who could only score 12 runs in 13 balls. Inexperienced S Meghna scored the most runs for India. He scored 37 runs in 30 balls with the help of six fours and added 34 runs for the fourth wicket with Richa Ghosh (12). Indian batting collapsed after Meghna’s dismissal and the team could only manage 137 for eight in 20 overs. When Meghna’s wicket fell, India had to score 55 runs in 5.1 overs, which was a very difficult task for the lower order.
Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr and Kelly Jensen took two wickets for New Zealand. Earlier, experienced all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar took two wickets to restrict New Zealand to 155 for five. Indian captain Harmanpreet won the toss and decided to bowl. Vastrakar conceded only 16 runs in four overs while bowling economical while Sharma conceded 26 runs with his off-spin bowling. Senior spinner Rajeshwari Gaikwad proved costly, taking one for 39 in four overs.
For New Zealand, captain Sophie Devine made 31 off 23 balls and Suzy Bates scored 36 runs in 34 balls. Both added 60 runs for the first wicket. Meghna and Simran Bahadur made their debut for India. Simran dropped Devine’s catch on the first ball of her international career in the second over when she was on a run. Both the teams will now play a five-match ODI series from Saturday. (agency)