ICC Women's World T20, Highlights, India vs New Zealand, Full Cricket Score: Harmanpreet Kaur-led India win by 34 runs

Harmanpreet Kaur is the first Indian skipper to win a player of the match award in Women’s World T20.

This is New Zealand Women’s sixth consecutive defeat in T20Is.

DID YOU KNOW?

Harmanpreet Kaur is the first Indian skipper to win a player of the match award in Women’s World T20.

This is New Zealand Women’s sixth consecutive defeat in T20Is.

Harmanpreet Kaur, India captain: Winning and losing is part of the game. Since Ramesh (Powar) sir joined us, our mindset has changed. He has a lot of experience, and we’re really happy to have him in the team. Mithali di is one of our key player. If she can bat later on, she can get a lot of runs for us. (On Jemimah) She likes to express herself and never takes pressure. We need young players who are excited about playing in world cricket. I’m really happy with the way she played today. (On bowling performance) Not really happy because I was expecting more from them, but it’s part of the game. As bowling unit, we have a lot to improve.

FYI: This was India Women’s  50th win in T20Is.

Amy Sattherwaite, New Zealand captain: We had seen their key players in the competitions around the world, so we know their team pretty well. To be honest we were outplayed. Outstanding innings by Harman, but need to have answers to counter something like that. Tahuhu bowled with a lot of fire in the beginning, that’s what she’s there for. Really disappointed with how we failed to execute our plans today.  I don’t think the decision to not take the DRS early was poor – they weren’t really howlers so we didn’t want to use them up. I told them that we needed to be clear on out plan. Really proud of the way the girls played today. They showed a lot of confidence and it’ll be good for us going forward. We have three days now to rest and reflect.

This is the first time India have beaten New Zealand in a World T20 match (Men/Women).

India’s opening match in each edition of World T20:

2009: Lost

2010: Lost

2012: Lost

2014: Lost

2016: Won

2018: Won

Harmanpreet Kaur, Player of the Match: Excited, but I think it’s just the beginning, and still a long way to go. As a team, we still need to improve a lot. If I settle down, I can go for my shots. Initially I took my time. Jemi played really well. Credit goes to her, because she played really well. She’s very mature. We need to improve in first six over. Yesterday I had a bit of fever, but feeling really well after the win.

Harmanpreet Kaur is the Player of the Match for her scintillating knock of 103 off 51 balls!

This is the second time that two Indian spinners have taken three or more wickets each in a World T20 match. The other time it happened against West Indies Women at Mohali in 2016.

After 20 overs,New Zealand Women 160/9 ( Amelia Kerr 0 , )

Kasperek looks to trim the size of defeat as much as she can, collecting back-to-back fours, before Deepti collects a blinder at long on to result in her dismissal. Jensen’s stumped off the last ball, as India pull off a 34-run victory to collect their first points in the tournament!

INDIA WIN BY 34 RUNS! Jensen’s stumped off the last ball of the innings, with Bhatia whipping the bails off in a flash, as the Indians are off to a strong start in the 2018 edition of the Women’s World T20, beating the White Fens by a sizeable margin! NZ 160/9

Jensen st Bhatia b Radha 1(2)

OUT! Another blinder by Deepti in the outfield, as Kasperek’s quickfire innings comes to an end with two balls left in the NZ innings! NZ 160/8

Kasperek c Deepti b Radha 19(9)

Back-to-back boundaries for Leigh Kasperek at the start of the final over, and she’s greatly reducing the margin of defeat right now! NZ 160/7

Radha Yadav to bowl the final over of the New Zealand innings.

After 19 overs,New Zealand Women 151/7 ( Leigh Kasperek 11 , Hayley Jensen 0)

Poonam returns for the penultimate over, and ends Katey Martin’s cameo at the 39-run mark, with the White Ferns keeper offering Harmanpreet a simple catch. Poonam, however, is also expensive in her final over, conceding three fours, as she signs off with figure of 3/33.  

New Zealand need 44 to win off 6 balls.

FOUR! Crunched through the off side by Kasperek, and the boundary brings up the 150 for New Zealand! NZ 151/7

OUT! Simplest of catches for India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as Martin gets a thick leading edge that lobs the ball high in the air over mid off. NZ 147/7

Martin c Harmanpreet b Poonam 39(25)

FOUR! Full delivery from Poonam outside off, and Martin accepts it gleefully, hammering it over extra cover! NZ 147/6

FOUR! Leigh Kasperek helps herself to a boundary with a sweep towards the square-leg off Poonam! NZ 142/6

Poonam Yadav brought back for the penultimate over of the innings.

After 18 overs,New Zealand Women 137/6 ( Katey Martin (W) 34 , Leigh Kasperek 2)

Reddy starts her final over with a wide. Appeal for caught-behind against Martin off the second delivery, and Indian skipper Harmanpreet goes for the review after its turned down. The TV umpire however, isn’t entirely convinced, and sticks to the on-field umpire’s original decision. Eight off the over, as Reddy signs off with figures of 1/36. 

New Zealand need 58 to win off 12 balls.

FOUR! Reddy fires a full toss to Martin, who pulls this behind square on the leg side! Martin moves to 32, having scored 28 of those runs in boundaries so far! NZ 134/6

After 17 overs,New Zealand Women 129/6 ( Katey Martin (W) 28 , Leigh Kasperek 1)

Martin continues to look solid in the little cameo she’s playing right now, collecting two boundaries off Deepti’s bowling in what is her final over. 

New Zealand need 66 to win off 18 balls.

FOUR! Second boundary for Martin off the over, and she’s looking in real fine touch today! NZ 128/6

FOUR! Martin dispatches this behind square on the leg side for a four! NZ 124/6

After 16 overs,New Zealand Women 119/6 ( Katey Martin (W) 19 , Leigh Kasperek 0)

Good over for the White Ferns, with Martin collecting two boundaries, both hit towards the leg side. Martin’s hitting the ball well, although it might have come a little late for the batting side.

New Zealand need 76 to win from 24 balls.

Back-to-back boundaries for Katey Martin off Poonam Yadav, and the White Ferns keeper hasn’t given up yet despite the flurry of wickets around her! NZ 119/6

After 15 overs,New Zealand Women 111/6 ( Katey Martin (W) 11 , Leigh Kasperek 0)

Eight runs off Hemalatha’s final over as she gets Maddy Green dismissed — courtesy a fine catch by Deepti — to finish with fine figures of 3/26 from four overs. 

New Zealand need 84 to win off 30 balls.

OUT! What a catch by Deepti at cow corner, as Maddy Green perishes without making much contribution! The White Ferns lose their sixth, with this being Hemalatha’s third wicket! NZ 110/6

Green c Deepti b Hemalatha 2(3)

FOUR! Another boundary for Martin, as she advances down the track and clubs the ball towards long off. NZ 108/5

After 14 overs,New Zealand Women 103/5 ( Katey Martin (W) 5 , Maddy Green 1)

Arundhati Reddy returns to the attack in the 14th over, with the White Ferns being dealt with a body blow as Suzie Bates departs for 67. Martin ends the over with a boundary towards midwicket to bring up the 100 for the White Ferns.

FOUR! Martin goes for a slog towards the midwicket fence, with no protection in the deep to stop the boundary. And that brings up the 100 for the White Ferns. NZ 103/5

OUT! Arundhati Reddy nets the big fish for the Indians, as Bates holes out to Deepti Sharma at backward point! New Zealand had their hopes pinned on Bates, and are in serious trouble now with her gone. NZ 98/5

Bates c Deepti b Arundhati 67(50)

Most 50-plus scores in Women’s World T20:

6 – Suzie Bates*
6 – Sarah Taylor 
5 – Charlotte Edwards
5 – Meg Lanning 
4 – Deandra Dottin

After 13 overs,New Zealand Women 96/4 ( Suzie Bates 66 , Katey Martin (W) 0)

Hemalatha gets another big wicket, and it is that of the NZ skipper Satterthwaite, who sweeps straight to Krishnamurthy at backward square-leg! Six runs and a wicket off the over, with the Indians in firm control at the moment.

OUT! NZ skipper Satterthwaite departs, sweeping straight to Krishnamurthy at backward square-leg! Second wicket for Hemalatha! NZ 93/4

Satterthwaite c Krishnamurthy b Hemalatha 3(9)

After 12 overs,New Zealand Women 90/3 ( Suzie Bates 61 , Amy Satterthwaite (C) 2)

Radha returns to the attack in the 12th over, and starts off with a pull towards the square-leg fence for her eighth boundary. Nine off the over.

FOUR! Bates shuffles to her right yet again, and lobs the ball towards the square-leg fence for another boundary! NZ 85/3

Radha Yadav brought back into the attack

After 11 overs,New Zealand Women 81/3 ( Suzie Bates 53 , Amy Satterthwaite (C) 1)

Seven runs off the 11th over, with Bates smacking one down the ground to bring up her seventh boundary, and more importantly bring up her half-century — her 20th in T20Is.

Suzie Bates is now the highest run-getter in Women’s World T20, going past Charlotte Edward’s tally of 768 runs.

FIFTY for Suzie Bates, getting on the backfoot and punching the ball down the ground for her seventh boundary this innings! She becomes the leading run-scorer in T20Is with that shot! NZ 80/3

After 10 overs,New Zealand Women 74/3 ( Suzie Bates 47 , Amy Satterthwaite (C) 0)

Bates shuffles a couple of steps to her right, and guides the ball towards fine-leg, where some superb fielding by Reddy saves a run for the Indians. That’s before Poonam removes Devine and Watkin off successive deliveries to put the Indians in control of the proceedings. What will be all the more disappointing for the White Ferns will be the fact that both wickets were somewhat thrown away by the batters. Four runs and two dismissals off the 10th over.

Poonam Yadav on a hat-trick… and Satterthwaite manages to leave a wide delivery alone.

OUT! Jess Watkin’s stumped off the very first delivery and Poonam’s on a hat-trick! NZ 73/3

Watkin st Bhatia b Poonam 0(1)

OUT! Devine holes out to Harmanpreet at extra cover while attempting another big hit! India manage to break another dangerous-looking partnership! NZ 73/2

Devine c Harmanpreet b Poonam 9(9)

After 9 overs,New Zealand Women 70/1 ( Suzie Bates 44 , Sophie Devine 9)

Run-out scare for Devine in the second delivery after a mix-up, although the batter returns to the striker’s end on time as Bhatia whips the bails off. Devine later smacks the ball over the square-leg fence to collect the first six of the innings. Nine off the over.

SIX! Devine gets on the backfoot, and swivels her bat to send the ball flying over the square-leg fence! NZ 70/1

New Zealand’s top-two highest run-getter in Women’s T20Is are at the crease now – Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine. India must break this stand as quickly as possible before it becomes dangerous.

Poonam Yadav is the highest wicket-taker in this year in Women’s T20Is with 27 wickets. It will be intriguing to see when India will bring her into the attack.

After 8 overs,New Zealand Women 61/1 ( Suzie Bates 42 , Sophie Devine 2)

Poonam’s brought into the attack in the eighth over, with Suzie Bates smacking the ball towards the square-leg fence off the fourth delivery to move to the 40s. Seven off the over.

FOUR! Bates shuffles a long way to her right, and sweeps the ball towards the square-leg fence to move to the 40s! NZ 60/1

The wily leg-spinner Poonam Yadav’s introduced in the eighth over.

After 7 overs,New Zealand Women 54/1 ( Suzie Bates 36 , Sophie Devine 1)

Successful first over in T20I cricket for Tamil Nadu offie Hemalatha, as she gets Peterson caught behind to get the breakthrough that the Indians were looking for. The experienced Sophie Devine walks out to the centre.

After 7 overs,New Zealand Women 54/1 ( Suzie Bates 36 , Sophie Devine 1)

Successful first over in T20I cricket for Tamil Nadu offie Hemalatha, as she gets Peterson caught behind to get the breakthrough that the Indians were looking for. The experienced Sophie Devine walks out to the centre.

OUT! Debutant Hemalatha takes just three deliveries to collect her maiden T20I wicket, as Peterson nicks one to the keeper while looking for a late cut! NZ 52/1

Peterson c Bhatia b Hemalatha 14(12)

Debutant Dayalan Hemalatha brought into the attack in the seventh over.

After 6 overs,New Zealand Women 51/0 ( Suzie Bates 34 , Anna Peterson 14)

11 runs off the final over of power play, with Peterson paddling the ball towards short fine for a boundary to bring up the fifty opening stand. Superb start for the White Ferns so far.

FOUR! Cheeky shot from Peterson, who shuffles right, gets on her knees and paddles the ball past short fine! That brings up the fifty-opening stand!  NZ 51/0

Arundhati Reddy returns to the attack for the final over of powerplay.

After 5 overs,New Zealand Women 40/0 ( Suzie Bates 30 , Anna Peterson 8)

Seven runs collected off the fifth over, with Bates carving a back-of-length delivery from Deepti through the gap between extra cover and mid off to collect her fifth boundary. NZ couldn’t have had a more contrasting start to that of India, who had lost three wickets by the time they reached 40.

FOUR! Bates once again finds the gap, carving the back-of-length delivery between extra cover and mid off! NZ 39/0

After 4 overs,New Zealand Women 33/0 ( Suzie Bates 24 , Anna Peterson 7)

Another big over for the White Ferns, with Bates smacking two boundaries off Radha’s bowling, as 11 are collected off the over. Good start for the side, so that’s one box ticked in the innings so far.

FOUR! This one’s hit down the ground by the former NZ skipper! Bates in sparkling touch today! NZ 32/0

FOUR! Smacked towards the midwicket fence by Bates! NZ 26/0

Suzie Bates in this year in T20Is:

Runs – 517
Average – 57.44
SR – 140.38

After 3 overs,New Zealand Women 22/0 ( Suzie Bates 13 , Anna Peterson 7)

Quick collect and throw by Deepti towards the non-striker’s stumps in the third delivery, though Peterson drags her bat behind the line on time. Appeal for run-out in the fourth delivery, but Peterson’s safe for a second time in the over. Bates crunches the ball through extra-cover for a boundary, before collecting a single off the last ball. Nine off the over.

FOUR! Bates rocks back, and crunches the ball through extra-cover for a four! NZ 21/0

Appreciation coming from Windies vice-captain, who is hours away from playing her first game cannot take her eyes off Kaur’s innings

Well played Kaur 👏🏽 Amazing innings and great start to the #WT20 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

— Hayley Matthews (@MyNameIs_Hayley) November 9, 2018

Arundhati Reddy replaced by Deepti Sharma from the other end.

After 2 overs,New Zealand Women 13/0 ( Suzie Bates 8 , Anna Peterson 5)

A much better over for India, with left-arm spinner Radha giving away just two singles off the over.

Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav to bowl from the other end.

After 1 overs,New Zealand Women 11/0 ( Suzie Bates 7 , Anna Peterson 4)

The White Ferns are off to a positive start in their chase of the challenging 195-run target, with both Bates and Peterson collecting a boundary each off Reddy’s bowling.

Suzie Bates and Anna Peterson walk out to open the White Ferns innings. Medium pacer Arundhati Reddy to bowl the first over.

India Women’s today:

First 10 overs : 76/3

Next 5 overs: 48/0

Last 5 overs: 70/2

Their total of 194/5 is the highest in Women’s World T20 match, going past Australia’s 191/4 v IrelandW at Sylhet in 2014.

Most sixes in an innings in Women’s T20Is:

9 – D Dottin v SAW, Basseterre, 2010

8 – S Devine v IndW, Bangalore, 2015

8 – Harmanpreet Kaur v NZW, Providence, 2018*

“Knew if I stayed, I could get the runs. It’s always difficult, but you’ve got to focus on the next ball. We were just focusing on building a partnership, we had to play till the end. We need quick wickets to put the pressure on them,” says Jemimah Rodrigues at the end of the Indian innings.

Harmanpreet Kaur:

– 1st Indian player to score a century in Women’s T20Is

– 3rd captain to score a ton in Women’s T20Is

– 3rd player to score a century in Women’s World T20

After 20 overs,India Women 194/5 (Veda Krishnamurthy 1, Radha Yadav 0)

India put on a formidable score for the White Ferns in the first match of the WWT20. Harmanpreet Kaur stars with a dominating century that propelled India to a massive first innings score with important contribution from 18-year old Jemimah Rodrigues with her 59.

Highest stands for India in Women’s World T20:

134 – Kaur/Rodrigues v NZ, Providence, 2018*

117 – Raj/Raut v WI, Sylhet, 2014

107 – Kaur/Raj v Ban, Sylhet, 2014

OUT!  Excellent innings comes to an end! Kaur was simply unstoppable today, hitting the ball with such ease and clearing the field of play with minimum effort. Batting of the highest order. Kaur chases a wide delivery from Devine, gets a thing edge to the keeper. Standing ovation for one of the finest knocks by an Indian in T20Is. Players from opposition camp too congratulate the opposition captain.

Harmanpreet Kaur c Katey Martin b Devine 103(51)

CENTURY! An absolutely special innings from Harmanpreet Kaur! She blasted eight sixes in her innings to get to the landmark in 49 balls. Brute of a knock from Kaur. All rise! She became the first Indian to score a T20I century in Women’s T20I.

After 19 overs,India Women 187/4 ( Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 97 , Veda Krishnamurthy 1)

Despite the wicket of Rodrigues. India collect 15 off the over thanks to Kaur’s sixes off the last two balls. She is unbeaten on 97.

SIX! Kaur slams back-to-back sixes. Comes down the pitch and hits it with the wind. Tonks it over long on.

SIX! Harmanpreet Kaur moves across her wickets and smashes it over backward square leg for a big six.

OUT! A 134-run partnership comes to an end, as Rodrigues is stumped for 59! Tossed up outside off, Rodrigues, comes down the pitch and hoick it away. She misses, and it’s through to the keeper who whips off the bails. 

Rodrigues st Katey Martin b Jess Watkin 59(45)

Harmanpreet Kaur now holds the record of scoring most runs in an individual innings for India in a Women’s World T20 match, going past her 77 runs v Bangladesh Women at Sylhet in 2014.

After 18 overs,India Women 172/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 57 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 85)

Kaur is in some mood here. She has set the tournament ablaze with a fantastic knock here and she is far from done here. Century in sight for Kaur. Another expensive over, 17 off it.

Jemimah Rodrigues becomes the youngest Indian player to score a fifty in a Women’s World T20 match – 18y 65d. 

Previous: Punam Raut (20y 206d v Pak Women in 2010)

SIX! Harmanpreet Kaur is absolutely on a rampage! She is yet again down the wicket and strikes it high and gets it over long-off for another massive six.

FOUR! Kaur moves across the stumps and sweeps it away towards the backward square leg boundary

FOUR! On the middle stump, Rodrigues comes down the track and lofts it away to the long-off boundary for four

Harmanpreet Kaur is the highest run-getter in Women’s T20Is in this year, going past Suize Bates’ 509 runs.

After 17 overs,India Women 155/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 51 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 74)

Rodrigues and Kaur continue to find boundaries as Rodrigues goes past her fifty and India jet past 150. We are eyeing a huge total here. White Ferns in a desperate need of a wicket.

FOUR! Harmanpreet Kaur is on fire, bends on her knee, and sweeps it delicately over the in-field to the backward square leg fence for four

FOUR! Full-toss and it was all too easy for Harmanpreet Kaur, who smacks it over the short fine leg fielder for another four.

FIFTY! Rodrigues brings up her half-century. Becomes the youngest player to score a fifty in WT20 tournament. She has dazzled with some fine strokeplay. What a start to her first World T20.

FOUR! Rodrigues hits it through the line to long on boundary, almost carried all the way.

After 16 overs,India Women 140/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 44 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 66)

Another massive over for India. With 16 runs coming from it and also the 100-run partnership between Rodrigues and Kaur.

SIX! Another one! Kaur dances down the track, gets to the pitch, and lofts it away over long-off for another massive six

FOUR! Super shot from Harmanpreet Kaur! Not all power here, lot of finesse. Carves it through the gap between backward point and cover point for four

After 15 overs,India Women 124/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 43 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 51)

Kaur raises her half-century in the over that helps India take eight runs. With 5 still to play India are aiming at 170-180 here.

FIFTY! Kaur completes a fantastic half-century. High quality batting from the Indian captain. She sees the slower delivery from Devine, nudges it for a single to get to her milestone

After 14 overs,India Women 116/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 41 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 45)

This is a great passage of play for India. Kaur takes her opposite number for 18 runs, including couple of biggies in the over. India eyeing a big score here.

FOUR! Flight on offer and Kaur slams it over the in-field towards wide long-on and Bates makes a mess of it in the deep. Should have been stopped. Four more to Kaur and India.

SIX! Fantastic shot that! Kaur comes out of her crease and bang! Goes straight this time. No chance for any fielder. Clean strike for another six.

SIX! Kaur once again makes use of her feet to take the ball on the full toss and slams it over long-on for six.  A full-stretch from Suzie Bates is only enough to get fingertips to the ball, but cannot keep the ball in play.

After 13 overs,India Women 98/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 40 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 28)

India near the 100-run mark, collecting seven runs off Kerr’s over including another boundary for Rodrigues. Set up nicely for the Indian side to launch in the final overs.

FOUR! Tossed up and some width on offer, Rodrigues slices it past point for a boundary.

After 12 overs,India Women 91/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 35 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 26)

The 50-run stand between Rodrigues and Kaur comes up as they take 10 runs off Tahuhu’s comeback over. Two sublime shots for boundary in the over.

FOUR! Another superb shot but this time from Kaur. Tahuhu pitched it full and wide of off stump. Harmanpreet simply throws her hands at that one, lofting it over the cover fielder for a boundary.

FOUR! That is an excellent pick up shot! Tahuhu slides it on the pads and Rodrigues flicks it off her legs to wide long on boundary.

After 11 overs,India Women 81/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 31 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 21)

Kasperek with another good over for New Zealand, giving away just five. Rodrigues and Kaur have added 41 for the the fourth wicket. Kaur was received some attention from the medics but after that she has decided to continue.

DID YOU KNOW?

Harmanpreet Kaur becomes the first Indian skipper to hit a six in a Women’s World T20 match.

Harmanpreet Kaur lays down the ground. She ran two and asked for some medical attention and looks like there is some stomach trouble. Physiotherapist Tracy Fernandes is out there trying to help the Indian captain.

After 10 overs,India Women 76/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 27 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 20)

Kaur has decided to instill some pace into India’s innings. Couple of maximums in the over which yielded 16 runs. At the halfway stage there is very little to choose between these two sides. India have recovered well after losing three wickets in the first six.

SIX! Kaur is on the move again. Shimmies down the wicket and this time goes over long off, perhaps got it from the outside half of the bat, but there is enough meat on it to ensure the ball clears the ropes.

SIX! Harmanpreet Kaur sees the flight and charges down the track, gets hold of the full toss and smashes it over mid wicket fence for the first six of the tournament.

After 9 overs,India Women 60/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 26 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 5)

Rodrigues and Harmanpreet keep the scoreboard ticking. A boundary followed by four singles, help India take eight runs off the over. Nice little partnership building for India here.

Sophie Devine is at the fourth place in the list of leading wicket-takers in Women’s World T20 with 22 wickets. Her economy rate has gone above seven in this year in T20Is – the first time since 2007 in a calendar year.

FOUR! Loosener from Kerr. Rodrigues skips down the pitch and drives it one the full to the cover boundary.

After 8 overs,India Women 52/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 20 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 3)

India go past the 50-run mark as Sophie Devine is brought into the attack for the first time. Couple of dots to finish the over. Seven runs off it.

FOUR! Jemimah gets an inside edge to the fine leg boundary. Full and straight from Devine and Rodrigues was slightly late to bring her bat down.

After 7 overs,India Women 45/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 14 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 2)

Amelia Kerr comes to the bowling crease. Decent start for her as she concedes only four runs of the over. The surface will have something for the spinners is what Ganga reckoned in his pitch report. Can Kerr get the best out of it?

After 6 overs,India Women 41/3 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 11 , Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 1)

End of the powerplay. India have good a decent number of runs in the first six but have lost three big wickets. With captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the middle, along with Rodrigues and likes of Mithali Raj and Veda Krishnamurthy still in the ranks, India bat deep. However, they need a 30-35 run partnership before they set a target in their minds.

OUT! GONE! Hemalatha walks across her stumps and was looking to sweep it past the short fine leg fielder but Kasperek bowled it full and outside off stump. Hemalatha was through the shot early, ended up giving a simple catch to the woman at 45.

D Hemalatha c Tahuhu b Kasperek 15(7)

In India’s last T20I series against Sri Lanka Women, Jemimah Rodrigues scored 35-plus runs in each of her four innings. She is one of the two Indian players with a SR of above 135 in this year in T20Is.

After 5 overs,India Women 37/2 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 10 , Dayalan Hemalatha 13)

Much-needed over for India. Jensen comes into the attack and with Hemalatha striking couple of boundaries towards the end, India take 13 runs from the over.

FOUR! Hemalatha drives on the rise and gets it through gap through extra cover. Back-to-back boundaries.

FOUR! Hemalatha advances down the pitch and slaps it over the non-striker for a boundary.

After 4 overs,India Women 24/2 ( Jemimah Rodrigues 8 , Dayalan Hemalatha 2)

Body blow for India as they lose Mandhana, who got a reprieve in the last over against an lbw shout, but could make most of it. Tahuhu has removed both openers barely for anything.

OUT! Hayley Jensen has plucked out a sensational catch litreally from thin air there. Short ball from Tahuhu and Mandhana goes for the pull, connects it well but the fielder was placed right for that short. Jensen  gets around, times her jump to perfection, stretches her arm over her head with the ball sailing over this is  fine, fine catch. Tahuhu has her second. Big blow for India.
 

Mandhana c Hayley Jensen b Tahuhu 2(7)

FOUR! Crisp drive through the covers from Rodrigues earns her a boundary. Very nicely done.

After 3 overs,India Women 17/1 ( Smriti Mandhana 2 , Jemimah Rodrigues 4)

Only one over for Watkin as Leigh Kasperek is introduced into the attack. Tidy start, giving away only three runs. Again a loud appeal from the bowling side turned down by the on field umpire this time it was against Mandhana. And again Amy Satterwaite doesn’t review it. Replays show the ball was hitting the stumps and the bat came in contact only after it had hit the pads.

After 2 overs,India Women 14/1 ( Smriti Mandhana 0 , Jemimah Rodrigues 3)

Eventful over there from Tahuhu. A wicket of the first ball and then couple of close shouts against Jemimah. One for caught behind down the leg side while the second appeal was for leg before wicket. The lbw show was very close, I am guessing Rodrigues is very lucky to be out there. White Ferns don’t opt to challenge Umpire’s call. We will have to wait for the first use of DRS in WWT20.

OUT! Tahuhu strikes of her first ball! That was one pacy delivery that went right through Bhatia. Bhatia was done in for pace. The ball did come in a little, raps on the pads and onto the off stump.

 T Bhatia b L Tahuhu 9(6)

Smriti Mandhana’s last five T20I innings:

0, 5, 6, 0, 7

Will she be able to make an impact today?

Lea Tahuhu will bowl from the other end.

After 1 over, India Women 9/0 ( Taniya Bhatia (W) 9 , Smriti Mandhana 0)

Couple of boundaries for Bhatia in the first over of the competition. Mandhana also chopping the last delivery of the over onto her stumps. Good start for India with nine runs coming off it.

FOUR! Not an ideal delivery that from Watkin. Dragged down and was again outside the line of leg stump. Shorter in length as well, Bhatia pulls, gets it past short fine leg and beats the fielder in the deep too.

FOUR! The 2018 Women’s World T20 gets underway with a boundary. Watkin starts with a middle and leg stump line with the spin taking it further away. Not a lot of bounce on offer, Bhatia shuffles and plays it very late off her pads to nudge it to fine leg boundary.

Indian openers Smriti Mandhana along side Taniya Bhatia make their way to the centre after the White Ferns jogged out. New Zealand start with spin. Jess Watkin will get us underway, Bhatia will take strike for the first ball. No slip in place. Hoping for it to be a cracker.

DID YOU KNOW?

New Zealand Women’s record in last five T20Is: L, L, L, L, L

While India have won four out of their last five T20Is with one ended in no-result.

Right! The action is all set to begin as players from both teams line up for the national anthems! The excitement continues to build.

India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Taniya Bhatia(w), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Dayalan Hemalatha, Mithali Raj, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Arundhati Reddy

New Zealand XI: Suzie Bates, Anna Peterson, Sophie Devine, Amy Satterthwaite(c), Katey Martin(w), Maddy Green, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Watkin, Hayley Jensen, Amelia Kerr, Lea Tahuhu

There is still a little over 10 minutes to go for the start of the match. You can take our short quiz before that, you might even want to share it with your friends.

India v New Zealand in Women’s T20Is:

Matches – 7
India won – 2
New Zealand won – 5

The last time when India faced New Zealand in a women’s T20I match was in 2015 at Bengaluru.

Pitch Report: There is no dew factor and the conditions won’t change much. Hard and with little grass covering and the spinners will come into play, reckons Darren Ganga in his report

TOSS: India win the toss and Harmanpreet Kaur has opted to bat first

Dayalan Hemalatha has been handed her debut cap and she will be making her maiden appearance for India in T20I.

India face a strong T20 side in White Ferns in tournament opener. Here is all you need to know about the New Zealand side.

The Women’s ODI World Cup caught the imagination of millions of fans and introduced new audiences to the women’s game. The 2018 World T20 is an opportunity for the players to show how far they have come since then. Here Ananya Upendran tracks Women’s cricket growth and journey.  Click here to read the full piece.

Players who could make a difference!

World Cups have a way of bringing out the best in players. Those who are able to withstand the pressure and pull out their best performances become part of cricket history. Within the last decade itself, dozens of champions have been unearthed. In 2009, it was Claire Taylor and Katherine Brunt who headlined England’s 50-over and T20 World Cup triumphs.

In 2013, Ellyse Perry overcame a troublesome ankle to produce a match-winning spell. In 2016, Hayley Matthews’ whirlwind half-century laid the base for West Indies maiden world title; and in 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana won the hearts of the Indian public, before Tammy Beaumont’s consistency and Anya Shrubsole’s devastating spell at the death sealed England’s victory at home.

Ahead of the 2018 ICC Women’s World T20, Firstpost lists 10 players to watch in the tournament— one from each team. Click here to read the article.

A big game right at the start of the tournament as Placed in the ‘group of death’ alongside Australia, Ireland and Pakistan, India and New Zealand are — barring a huge upset — pretty much fighting for one available semi-final spot, read the entire preview written by Ananya Upendran.

Welcome to our LIVE blog as we kick off ICC Women’s World T20 with Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian side take on World number two side New Zealand.