Women’s T20 World Cup: India outplayed as skipper Sophie Devine walks the talk in New Zealand’s massive win

In crisp contrast, India looked rusty and off-the-boil, contempt asserting that their preparations for the tourney were perfectly fine. The assurance didn’t bespeak successful the effect arsenic they were blown distant by 58 runs successful Dubai and suffered a superior aboriginal stroke to their semifinal hopes.

Devine’s sensational 57 disconnected 36 balls connected a nighttime erstwhile astir batters struggled for timing was the quality successful the extremity arsenic New Zealand posted 160/4 which instantly seemed good supra par. India’s run-chase had lone 1 happening successful communal to NZ’s batting effort – the top-scorer was the captain, with Harmanpreet making 15.

That summed up the atrocious authorities of affairs for them arsenic they were bowled retired for 102 successful 19 overs. In an already pugnacious group, immoderate decision would person been damaging for India’s chances but to suffer by 58 runs makes their task of finishing successful the apical 2 a mammoth one.

Busy astatine the crease

New Zealand sprang a astonishment astatine the toss, opting to bat archetypal but their intentions were wide from the archetypal transportation they faced. There was immoderate speech astir dew being a decisive origin successful Dubai successful the nighttime games, making chasing the amended option, but Devine was clear. She backed her batting portion to enactment India nether unit early.

Indian squad members observe the wicket of New Zealand’s Georgia Plimmer during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 lucifer betwixt India and New Zealand astatine Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates. (AP | PTI)

In her pre-tournament file for ICC, Devine had written: “There’s been a existent absorption connected rotation bowling, which I’m definite everyone is going to absorption on, but for america it’s astir onslaught complaint and scoring changeable percentages. With the bat, we privation to beryllium truly engaged astatine the crease, we cognize that the conditions mightiness beryllium tough, truthful each tally is going to beryllium valuable.”

And Suzie Bates did conscionable that, utilizing her feet to determination astir the crease from shot one. Georgia Plimmer – who has been identified arsenic the aboriginal opener for the White Ferns and hence Devine has demoted herself down the bid – besides stayed engaged successful the mediate arsenic NZ didn’t fto India easiness into the match. So overmuch truthful that Harmanpreet was forced into taking a squad huddle successful the 4th implicit during a reappraisal break. India’s ground-fielding and catching were mean erstwhile much – isolated from the electrical Jemimah Rodrigues – but they did use the brakes connected NZ’s batting station the powerplay.

Devine nevertheless had different ideas arsenic she smashed 7 fours during her blistering knock, and powered New Zealand to 160. She excessively utilized the crease superbly, advancing erstwhile she saw fuller lengths and past rocking backmost to usage her brute unit erstwhile Indian bowlers overcompensated. It didn’t assistance India that the usually-reliable Deepti Sharma had an off-day, conceding 0/45 successful her 4 overs.

The transportation had already shown signs of aiding change-of-pace bowling, and it was imperative for India to lucifer New Zealand’s commencement with the bat to basal a chance. But with Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and caller No 3 Harmanpreet each falling wrong the powerplay, the run-chase ne'er got going.

“They conscionable played amended cricket than america without a doubt,” was Harmanpreet’s summation of the nighttime and it is hard to reason with that. India adjacent look a buoyant Pakistan connected Sunday, but looking somewhat ahead, it already appears they mightiness person to bushed Australia – and by a bully borderline – to basal a accidental of finishing successful the apical 2 of the group. The tourney couldn’t person started connected a much deflating note.

Brief scores: New Zealand 160 for 4 successful 20 overs (Sophie Devine 57 not out, Renuka Singh 2/27) bushed India 102 each retired successful 19 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 15; Rosemary Mair 4/19)