Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine this: the sun beating down on a packed stadium, the air buzzing with excitement, and two powerhouse teams – India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard gritty White Ferns – ready to lock horns in a battle of skill, strategy, and sheer determination. That’s exactly what we witnessed in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Group A Match 4, where the India Women’s National Cricket Team took on the New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team on October 4, 2024, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
If you’re new to cricket or just love a good underdog story, stick around. This article breaks down the entire match in simple, fun language – no jargon overload, I promise. We’ll dive into the scorecard, highlight the heroes (and a few heartbreakers), chat about what makes these teams tick, and even peek at their head-to-head history. By the end, you’ll feel like you were right there in the stands, cheering with the crowd. And hey, if you’re a grandparent sharing this with the grandkids or a teen scrolling on your phone, it’s all easy to follow. Let’s get into it!
Setting the Stage: Why This India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Mattered
Cricket, especially women’s cricket, is exploding right now. It’s fast, fierce, and full of inspiring stories. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is like the Super Bowl for global fans – every ball counts, and one six can change everything. For India, captained by the cool-headed Harmanpreet Kaur, this tournament was a chance to shake off recent heartbreaks and chase glory. They’ve got stars like Smriti Mandhana, who bats like poetry in motion, and bowlers like Deepti Sharma, who can turn a game with a flick of her wrist.
New Zealand, led by the experienced Sophie Devine, are no strangers to big stages. Known for their never-say-die spirit, the White Ferns have punched above their weight in past World Cups. Players like Suzie Bates bring wisdom and firepower, while youngsters like Amelia Kerr add that X-factor spin. This clash wasn’t just about points in Group A; it was a test of who could adapt to Dubai’s spin-friendly pitches and scorching heat.
The match started under the floodlights at 6:00 PM local time. New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first – a smart call on a pitch that favored chasing. Little did they know, India had other plans. What followed was a rollercoaster of collapses, comebacks, and clutch performances that left everyone on the edge of their seats.
The Action Unfolds: India’s Batting Drama
Let’s talk numbers first, because that’s the heart of any scorecard. India batted first and posted a modest 102 all out in just 19.5 overs. Yeah, you read that right – a total that screamed “defensive” more than “dominating.” But cricket’s funny like that; low scores can lead to nail-biters.
It all began promisingly. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues got off to a steady start, nudging singles and rotating the strike. Mandhana, with her elegant cover drives, looked like she was settling in. But New Zealand’s bowlers smelled blood early. Lea Tahuhu, the experienced pacer, struck first, clean-bowling Mandhana for 6 off 8 balls. Just like that, the scoreboard ticked over uneasily.
Rodrigues followed soon after, caught behind off Jess Kerr for 5. Enter Shafali Verma, the young gun known for her aggressive starts. She smashed a quick 6 but holed out attempting a big shot. By the 5-over mark, India were 29/3. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur tried to steady the ship, but the Kiwi seamers – Tahuhu and Kerr – were relentless. Richa Ghosh, the explosive wicketkeeper-batter, fell for a duck, and Deepti Sharma managed just 2 before edging one to slip.
The middle order crumbled like a house of cards. Tahuhu ended with figures of 3/21, her swing and pace troubling everyone. Even all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar couldn’t capitalize, scoring 4. India’s innings wrapped up when Radha Yadav was last out, caught for 0. In the end, only three Indian batters reached double figures: Jemimah Rodrigues (15), Dayalan Hemalatha (14), and Arundhati Reddy (10). It was a shocking collapse – from 50/4 to 102 all out. Fans on social media were stunned; one tweet read, “India’s top order today: More ducks than a farm pond!”
But here’s the silver lining: cricket rewards patience. India’s bowlers, fresh from a short stint with the bat, had a point to prove.
New Zealand’s Chase: Confidence Meets Collapse
Chasing 103 in T20s sounds like a walk in the park, right? Not against this Indian attack. New Zealand started confidently. Openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer ticked the scoreboard over with crisp shots. Bates, the veteran with over 200 internationals under her belt, looked untouchable early on, flicking Deepti Sharma for boundaries.
By the 5-over powerplay end, NZ were 42/0 – flying high. Plimmer was timing the ball sweetly, and Bates was rotating strike like a pro. But then, magic happened. Deepti Sharma, India’s off-spin wizard, got Bates stumped for 24 off 25 balls. That wicket swung momentum like a pendulum. Plimmer followed in the next over, bowled by the wily Renuka Singh for 33 off 26 – a promising knock cut short.
Sophie Devine, NZ’s captain and middle-order powerhouse, walked in with intent. She smashed a six off Sharma but couldn’t build. Renuka struck again, trapping Devine LBW for 9. At 66/3 in 10 overs, NZ still seemed favorites. But India smelled blood. Amanjot Kaur, the part-time medium-pacer, got her first international scalp by dismissing Brooke Halliday for 5.
The real hero emerged in the form of Shree Charani, the young left-arm spinner making her mark. She deceived Maddy Green with flight, getting her stumped for 8. Charani’s figures? An unbelievable 4/12 in her 3.5 overs – the standout performance of the match. As wickets tumbled, NZ’s run rate dipped. Izzy Gaze (2), Lea Tahuhu (0), and Jess Kerr (0) fell in quick succession. The lower order couldn’t resist; even Amelia Kerr, the leg-spin sensation, managed just 1 before being bowled.
New Zealand were bundled out for 80 in 17.2 overs – 22 runs short. India’s bowlers, led by Charani and Deepti (2/23), turned a potential embarrassment into a famous victory. The Dubai crowd erupted; it was a reminder that in T20 cricket, anything can happen.
The Full India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
To make it super easy, here’s the complete match scorecard in a table. I’ve kept it simple – batting first for each team, with key stats like runs, balls faced, and how they got out. Bowling figures follow. (All data from official ICC records.)
Batting Scorecard
| Team | Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India Women (102 all out in 19.5 overs) | Smriti Mandhana | b Tahuhu | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | c Gaze b Kerr | 15 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 75.00 | |
| Shafali Verma | c Devine b Tahuhu | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 | |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (c) | c Halliday b Kerr | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 64.29 | |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | b Tahuhu | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Dayalan Hemalatha | c Green b Carson | 14 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 77.78 | |
| Deepti Sharma | c Bates b Kerr | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 | |
| Pooja Vastrakar | run out (Gaze) | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 | |
| Amanjot Kaur | c Plimmer b Tahuhu | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 | |
| Arundhati Reddy | not out | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 | |
| Renuka Singh | b Kerr | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Shree Charani | c Gaze b Jonas | 17 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 73.91 | |
| Extras | (lb 5, w 11, nb 0, b 0) | 16 | |||||
| Total | 102 | (19.5 overs) | 5.14 RPO |
| Team | Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Women (80 all out in 17.2 overs) | Suzie Bates | st Ghosh b Sharma | 24 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 96.00 |
| Georgia Plimmer | b Singh | 33 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 126.92 | |
| Sophie Devine (c) | lbw b Singh | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 | |
| Brooke Halliday | c Ghosh b Kaur | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 71.43 | |
| Maddy Green | st Ghosh b Charani | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 | |
| Izzy Gaze (wk) | b Charani | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 | |
| Amelia Kerr | b Charani | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | |
| Lea Tahuhu | c Rodrigues b Sharma | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Jess Kerr | run out (Vastrakar) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Eden Carson | c Verma b Charani | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 | |
| Fran Jonas | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 12, nb 0, b 0) | 14 | |||||
| Total | 80 | (17.2 overs) | 4.60 RPO |
Bowling Scorecard
India Women’s Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Wides | No-Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renuka Singh | 4 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 4.50 | 2 | 0 |
| Arundhati Reddy | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 | 1 | 0 |
| Deepti Sharma | 4 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 5.75 | 0 | 0 |
| Shree Charani | 3.5 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 3.23 | 1 | 0 |
| Amanjot Kaur | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 4.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Pooja Vastrakar | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 | 0 | 0 |
New Zealand Women’s Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Wides | No-Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lea Tahuhu | 4 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 5.25 | 2 | 0 |
| Jess Kerr | 4 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 5.00 | 3 | 0 |
| Eden Carson | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 4.50 | 1 | 0 |
| Fran Jonas | 3.5 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 5.83 | 1 | 0 |
| Amelia Kerr | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Sophie Devine | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.00 | 0 | 0 |
Player of the Match? Shree Charani, hands down. Her four-fer was a masterclass in control and deception.
Key Highlights: Moments That Stole the Show
- The Big Collapse: India’s top five batters scored just 36 runs combined. It was a stark reminder of how pressure can unravel even the best lineups.
- Charani’s Magic: At 19 years old, the debutant spinner turned the game single-handedly. Her googly to Maddy Green? Pure gold.
- Fielding Feats: Richa Ghosh’s sharp stumping behind the stumps saved crucial runs. And that run-out of Jess Kerr? Text-book stuff from Pooja Vastrakar.
- Kiwi Fightback: Despite the loss, Georgia Plimmer’s 33 showed why she’s a rising star. Suzie Bates’ calm presence kept NZ in it till the end.
Post-match, Harmanpreet Kaur said, “We didn’t play our best with the bat, but the bowlers showed character. Every game is a lesson.” Sophie Devine added, “Credit to India – they bowled tight. We’ll bounce back.” Fans loved the sportsmanship; viral clips showed the teams hugging it out.
The Bigger Picture: Team Profiles and Rivalries
India Women’s National Cricket Team: The Blue Brigade
India’s women have come a long way since their 1982 debut. From runners-up in the 2022 Commonwealth Games to consistent ICC performers, they’re a blend of youth and experience. Key players:
- Smriti Mandhana: The left-handed opener with 3,500+ international runs. Her 2023 ODI century against Australia? Legendary.
- Harmanpreet Kaur: Captain cool, known for her match-winning 103* in the 2017 World Cup semi-final.
- Deepti Sharma: All-rounder extraordinaire – 100+ wickets and runs in all formats.
- Strengths: Explosive batting, versatile spin attack.
- Weaknesses: Occasional top-order fragility, as seen here.
Off the field, they’re trailblazers. Initiatives like the Women’s Premier League (WPL) have boosted visibility, inspiring girls across India to pick up a bat.
New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team: The White Ferns
The Ferns are cricket’s quiet achievers. They’ve reached World Cup finals multiple times and thrive in crunch moments. Standouts:
- Suzie Bates: The all-time leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs (5,000+ runs). A true ambassador.
- Sophie Devine: Power-hitter and leader; her 2022 World Cup contributions were immense.
- Amelia Kerr: The 24-year-old leg-spinner with guile beyond her years.
- Strengths: Balanced attack, strong fielding.
- Weaknesses: Inconsistent batting depth.
New Zealand’s domestic system, Super Smash, keeps talent flowing. They’re all about teamwork – no egos, just results.
Head-to-Head: A Storied India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Rivalry
These teams have clashed 50+ times across formats. India leads slightly in T20Is (12 wins to NZ’s 10), but NZ edges ODIs. Memorable encounters:
- 2018 T20 World Cup: NZ chased down 112 in a super over thriller.
- 2022 Commonwealth Games Final: India won by 4 runs in a last-ball finish.
- Overall Stats: India – 25 wins; NZ – 22 (across all formats).
This 2024 match adds another chapter – India’s first World Cup win over NZ since 2018.
Why Women’s Cricket is a Must-Watch
Beyond the scorecard, this game highlights why women’s cricket is captivating. It’s raw, real, and rapidly growing. Viewership for the 2023 World Cup hit 500 million globally. In India, it’s breaking barriers – more girls in academies, bigger crowds at stadiums.
Challenges remain: Equal pay fights, better facilities. But wins like this fuel the fire. As Harmanpreet says, “We’re not just playing for us; we’re playing for every girl dreaming big.”
Wrapping Up: Lessons from the Dubai Duel
What a ride! From India’s batting blues to Charani’s spin symphony, this India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard at its unpredictable best. Scoreline: India 102, NZ 80 – a 22-run victory that boosts morale heading into tougher ties.
