The Indian women’s cricket team is experiencing challenges as a result of their defeat to New Zealand in their Women’s T20 World Cup group stage match. Before arriving for this Women’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand had lost ten T20I matches in a row. However, as it had to be, they managed to perform well in every aspect of the game and thrashed a hapless India by 58 runs in a Group A fixture of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.
After that defeat, their chances of making it to the semi-final have been affected. India is in Group A along with New Zealand and Pakistan, the Asian champions Sri Lanka, and defending T20 World Cup winners Australia. From each group, only the top two will make it to the last four. With an embarrassing loss to New Zealand, India’s run-rate stands at a negative-2.900.
In order for India to have a chance to qualify for the semi-finals, they must win against Pakistan (on Sunday) and Sri Lanka (October 9) and do so convincingly whereby they will not only secure four points but also enhance their run-rate. The last group stage for India is against Australia, who are six-time champions, hence beating them will be spectacular for the team. However, should India succumb to defeat from Australia, they will be looking to the remaining two matches left for New Zealand to lose at least two of them to avoid being tied. Then it will depend of run-rate.
A four-wicket haul by Rosemary Mair aided New Zealand in achieving a good 58 run victory against India in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opening match in Dubai on Friday. Batting last, Indian team was set a target of 161 runs and managed to score only 142 runs, with no batswoman scoring above 20 runs, and got mopped-up by White Ferns’ bowlers in the process.
India was chasing a target of 161 runs and got off to a horrible start losing Shafali Varma (2) and Smriti Mandhana (12 off 13 deliveries with two fours) to Eden Carson. The Women in Blue found themselves at 28/2 in 4.4 overs.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was eager to settle the number three position problem by contributing fine knock but was bowled leg before wicket by Rosemary Mair for 13 runs off 11 balls which included a single boundary. India had already lost three of its key batters with the score on 42 runs in the first powerplay itself.
At the completion of powerplay in six overs, India stood at 43/3 with Richa Ghosh (1) and Jemimah Rodrigues (6) remaining not out.
India took 7.4 overs to get past the fifty run mark.
India simply failed to get on course with the bat, not able to build any substantial partnership as Lea Tahuhu dismissed Rodrigues (13) and Richa Ghosh (12 off 19 balls) in quick succession. India was teetering at 70/5 at the end of 11 overs.
Sticking to the depressing trend Arundhati Reddy gave a simple catch to Suzie Bates at extra cover for one, giving Mair two wickets. Women in Blue were 75/6 in 12.2 overs.
Lea got Deepti for 13 as her third wicket while Amelia Kerr cleaned up Pooja Vastrakar for just eight runs. India slumped to 90/8 in 15.3 overs.
Mair took care of the rest of the batting order as well and wrapped up the innings and India were all out for 102 in 19 overs.
New Zealand’s Mair (4/19) was the most successful bowler. White Ferns’ Tahuhu (3/15) also bowled well. Carson shared the spoils and picked up two wickets.
Strong batting performance led by a brilliant half century from captain Sophie Devine saw New Zealand reach a decent total of 160/4 in their opening match against India at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup held in Dubai on Friday.
After New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and decided to bat, the openers Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates gave a good account of themselves with the latter hitting the former Indian pacer Vastrakar for two boundaries within the first over. Meanwhile, India’s dull first powerplay bowling did not improve as Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy allowed 16 and 12 runs in the third and the sixth overs respectively with the latter hitting three fours and a six in the process.
NZ reached the 50-run mark in just 5.4 overs.
In six overs of the powerplay, NZ was at 55/0, with Plimmer (30) and Bates (19) .
