India-New Zealand series kick-started on February 9 with a one-off T20I that was played at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown.
Toss
India won the toss and elected to field first.
Playing XI
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Sabbhineni Meghana, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Simran Dil Bahadur, Poonam Yadav
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Katey Martin, Lauren Down, Hayley Jensen, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe
First innings: New Zealand 155-5 in 20 overs
Put in to bat first, the White Ferns posted a challenging score of 155-5 in 20 overs, thanks to opening bat Suzie Bates 36 off 34 balls. Bates and her opening partner and New Zealand captain Sophie Devine stitched a 60 run partnership for the first wicket to set a solid foundation. Devine made the most after she was dropped in the very first over of the match by Simran Dil Bahadur of her own bowling. The skipper made India pay as she muscled 31 runs off 23 balls, including two boundaries and as many sixes. Apart from Devine and Bates, Maddy Green and Lea Tahuhu were the other contributors with the bat. Known for her bowling more than her batting, Tahuhu came in at number five and smashed 27 runs off just 14 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six. Green chipped in with a 20-ball 26 and Amelia Kerr mustered 20-ball 17.
17 Dot balls, conceded just 16 Runs, picked 2 wickets.
Pooja Vastrakar was at her absolute best. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/mlItV2wC89
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 9, 2022
For India, Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma picked up two wickets apiece, with Rajeshwari Gayakwad accounting for a solitary wicket. Apart from an ordinary bowling performance, the Indian fielders did not have a good outing in the outfield as they had a few misfields, a missed run-out chance and a missed caught and bowled chance.
New Zealand have managed 155-5
Suzie Bates: 36(34)
Sophie Devine: 31(23)Pooja Vastrakar: 2/16
Deepti Sharma: 2/26#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/rW2O98ulIt— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 9, 2022
Second innings: India 137-8 in 20 overs
Chasing 156 was not going to be easy for India, especially in the absence of their star opening batter Smriti Mandhana. There was no official word on the southpaw’s absence from the one-off T20I at the toss. Yastika Bhatia, another left-handed batter, opening the batting with Shafali Verma. The duo put together 41 runs in 6.3 overs, but fell in quick succession as leg spinner Amelia Kerr sent them packing in the same over. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur failed to impress as she was clean bowled by a peach of a delivery from Jess Kerr, after scoring a 13-ball 12. Sabbhineni Meghana, who came in at number four, was the most successful batter for India as she plundered 37 runs off 30 balls, including half a dozen boundaries. Meghana last featured in an international game in December 2016. She made a solid comeback and gave some hope to the Indian team. However, the target was too big for the Indian batters at the end. For New Zealand, the Kerr sisters wreaked havoc as they scalped a couple of wickets apiece. Hayley Jensen also joined the party with two wickets in her kitty. Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine struck with one wicket each.
New Zealand starts off the series on a winning note. #NZvIND @WHITE_FERNS pic.twitter.com/Ak1wxgepoP
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 9, 2022
Player of the Match
New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu won the player of the match for her match-winning all-round performance. The right-handed batter scored 27 runs off 14 balls and with the ball she picked up 1-27 in her four overs, bowling right-arm seam.
Brief Scores
New Zealand 155-5 in 20 overs (S Bates 36; P Vastrakar 2-16) beat India 137-8 in 20 overs (S Meghana 37; J Kerr 2-20) by 18 runs
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
