New Zealand consign India to heavy loss in Dubai demolition

A fiery opening partnership and Sophie Devine’s outstanding 57* saw New Zealand post the highest total of the tournament so far, leaving India requiring 161 to win.

And the chase rarely looked on, with wickets falling all-too-regularly for Harmanpreet Kaur’s India, who were bowled out 58 runs shy of their target, leaving them in a difficult position in Group A.

On a pitch that had looked good for batting in the first innings, India’s top order failed to get going, with five of the top six reaching double figures but nobody passing 15.

Eden Carson did the damage early on, removing both openers, taking a return catch to dismiss Shafali Verma (2) and having Smriti Mandhana caught at long-on for 12.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur looked in good touch as she led the recovery, but fell at the back-end of the powerplay when she was trapped in-front by Rosemary Mair.

And wickets continued to fall, as Jemimah Rodrigues’ promising knock came to an abrupt end when she was caught for 13(11), leaving e India needing their middle order to pull off a rescue job.

With the required rate rising, India needed something special, but the increasingly unlikely task proved too much, as New Zealand rattled through the wickets to expose the tail and leave the match done as a contest well before the final delivery.

Richa Ghosh (12), Deepti Sharma (13), Arundhati Reddy (1), Pooja Vastrakar (8), Shreyanka Patil (7) and Renuka Singh were the remaining wickets to fall, as India were bowled out for 102.

Rosemary Mair’s 4/19 was the pick of the figures, with Lea Tahuhu taking 3/15, Eden Carson bagging 2/34 and Melie Kerr finishing with 1/19.