Cricket is more than just a game—it’s a passion that brings people together, no matter where they’re from. On October 4, 2024, fans witnessed an electrifying clash between the New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai. This match, the fourth in Group A, was a high-stakes encounter that had everyone on the edge of their seats. New Zealand delivered a stunning performance, defeating India by a massive 58 runs in a game that showcased their dominance and left India with plenty to think about. Let’s break down the match, dive into the scorecard, and relive the key moments in a way that’s easy for anyone to follow, whether you’re a cricket newbie or a seasoned fan.

The Stage: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

The match took place at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a venue known for its electric atmosphere and challenging playing conditions. The pitch was expected to be a bit slow, favoring bowlers who could vary their pace and spinners who could grip the ball. Both teams, ranked among the top in the world—India at number three and New Zealand at number four—knew this game was crucial for their chances of advancing in a tough Group A, which also included powerhouses like Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

India, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, came into the tournament with high expectations. They had won five of their last six T20I matches and looked in good form during warm-up games against West Indies and South Africa. New Zealand, on the other hand, had struggled recently, losing their last 10 T20I matches. But under the leadership of Sophie Devine, the White Ferns were determined to turn things around and make a statement. And boy, did they deliver!

The Toss and Team Line-Ups

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that proved to be a masterstroke. The White Ferns fielded a balanced side with experienced players like Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, and Devine herself, alongside promising talents like Georgia Plimmer and Brooke Halliday. Their bowling attack included the swing of Rosemary Mair, the guile of Eden Carson, and the pace of Lea Tahuhu.

India’s line-up was equally formidable, boasting a strong top order with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, followed by Harmanpreet Kaur at number three. Their bowling unit featured the pace of Renuka Singh Thakur, the spin of Deepti Sharma, and the all-round skills of Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy. On paper, it was a clash of titans, but the game would soon reveal a different story.

New Zealand’s Batting: A Solid Foundation and Devine’s Fireworks

New Zealand’s innings got off to a flying start, with openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer taking the attack to India’s bowlers. Bates, known for her elegant strokeplay, began with a flourish, pulling a short ball from Pooja Vastrakar for a boundary in the first over. The pair added 67 runs for the first wicket, setting a solid platform. Bates scored 27 runs off her innings, while Plimmer contributed a brisk 34, showing aggression and intent.

India fought back with quick wickets, as Arundhati Reddy dismissed Bates and Asha Sobhana removed Plimmer. The middle overs saw New Zealand’s run rate slow down, thanks to India’s spinners, who kept things tight. But captain Sophie Devine had other plans. Coming in at number four, she played a captain’s knock, smashing an unbeaten 57 off just 36 balls, including seven fours. Her aggressive batting, especially in the death overs, propelled New Zealand to a challenging total of 160 for 4 in their 20 overs. Partnerships with Amelia Kerr (13 runs) and Brooke Halliday (16 runs) added crucial runs, with the White Ferns scoring 51 runs in the final five overs.

Renuka Singh Thakur was the pick of India’s bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 27 runs, while Reddy and Sobhana chipped in with one wicket each. Deepti Sharma, however, had a tough day, conceding 45 runs without a wicket, marking one of the most expensive bowling spells by an Indian in Women’s T20 World Cup history.

India’s Chase: A Collapse Under Pressure

Chasing 161 on a slightly tricky pitch was always going to be a challenge, but India had the batting depth to pull it off. They had chased similar totals before, and with players like Mandhana, Verma, and Kaur in the line-up, fans were hopeful. However, New Zealand’s bowlers had other ideas.

India’s innings got off to a disastrous start. Shafali Verma was dismissed for just 2 runs in the second over, caught by Sophie Devine off Eden Carson. Smriti Mandhana followed soon after, scoring 12 before falling to Carson. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, batting at number three, tried to steady the ship but was out for 15 in the sixth over, caught by Devine off Rosemary Mair. At 42 for 3, India were in trouble.

Jemimah Rodrigues (13) and Richa Ghosh (12) showed some fight, but both fell to soft dismissals—Ghosh chipped a ball to Devine at mid-off, and Rodrigues was caught off Lea Tahuhu. The middle order crumbled as Deepti Sharma (13) and Arundhati Reddy (1) failed to make an impact. New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Rosemary Mair’s sensational 4 for 19, kept the pressure on. Lea Tahuhu picked up 3 wickets, while Eden Carson and Amelia Kerr took 2 and 1 wickets, respectively.

India’s tail couldn’t wag either, with Shreyanka Patil and Renuka Singh falling in quick succession. The Women in Blue were bowled out for just 102 in 19 overs, handing New Zealand a comprehensive 58-run victory. It was a humbling defeat for a team considered one of the tournament favorites.

The New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: A Detailed Breakdown

Below is the full New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on October 4, 2024, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard

Match Details

• Series: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, 4th Match, Group A

• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

• Date & Time: October 4, 2024, 6:00 PM Local

• Toss: New Zealand Women won the toss and elected to bat

• Result: New Zealand Women won by 58 runs

New Zealand Women Innings

• Total: 160 for 4 (20 overs), Run Rate: 8.00

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Suzie Bates	c Mandhana b Reddy	27	25	4	0	108.00
Georgia Plimmer	c Ghosh b Sobhana	34	23	6	0	147.83
Amelia Kerr	c Vastrakar b Renuka Singh	13	22	0	0	59.09
Sophie Devine (c)	not out	57	36	7	0	158.33
Brooke Halliday	c Mandhana b Renuka Singh	16	12	2	0	133.33
Maddy Green	not out	5	3	1	0	166.67
Extras	(lb 4, w 4)	8
Total	(4 wickets, 20 overs)	160

• Did Not Bat: Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson

• Fall of Wickets: 67-1 (Bates, 7.2), 71-2 (Plimmer, 8.2), 103-3 (Kerr, 14.3), 149-4 (Halliday, 18.4)

• Bowling:

  • Pooja Vastrakar: 1-0-9-0 (9.00 economy)

  • Renuka Singh Thakur: 4-0-27-2 (6.75 economy)

  • Deepti Sharma: 4-0-45-0 (11.25 economy)

  • Arundhati Reddy: 4-0-28-1 (7.00 economy)

  • Asha Sobhana: 4-0-22-1 (5.50 economy)

  • Shreyanka Patil: 3-0-25-0 (8.33 economy)

India Women Innings

• Total: 102 all out (19 overs), Run Rate: 5.36

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Shafali Verma	c Devine b Carson	2	6	0	0	33.33
Smriti Mandhana	c Bates b Carson	12	17	1	0	70.59
Harmanpreet Kaur (c)	c Devine b Mair	15	14	2	0	107.14
Jemimah Rodrigues	c Halliday b Tahuhu	13	11	0	0	118.18
Richa Ghosh (wk)	c Devine b Tahuhu	12	21	1	0	57.14
Deepti Sharma	c Bates b Tahuhu	13	17	0	0	76.47
Arundhati Reddy	c Bates b Mair	1	5	0	0	20.00
Pooja Vastrakar	b Kerr	0	3	0	0	0.00
Shreyanka Patil	c Devine b Mair	4	12	0	0	33.33
Asha Sobhana	not out	5	10	0	0	50.00
Renuka Singh Thakur	c Halliday b Mair	0	1	0	0	0.00
Extras	(lb 2, w 13, nb 1)	16
Total	(10 wickets, 19 overs)	102

• Fall of Wickets: 11-1 (Verma, 1.1), 28-2 (Mandhana, 4.4), 42-3 (Kaur, 5.4), 55-4 (Rodrigues, 8.5), 70-5 (Ghosh, 10.6), 75-6 (Reddy, 12.2), 88-7 (Sharma, 14.4), 90-8 (Vastrakar, 15.3), 102-9 (Patil, 18.5), 102-10 (Renuka Singh, 18.6)

• Bowling:

  • Jess Kerr: 4-0-17-0 (4.25 economy)

  • Eden Carson: 4-0-34-2 (8.50 economy)

  • Rosemary Mair: 4-0-19-4 (4.75 economy)

  • Lea Tahuhu: 4-0-15-3 (3.75 economy)

  • Amelia Kerr: 3-0-14-1 (4.67 economy)

Player of the Match

• Sophie Devine (New Zealand): 57* (36 balls, 7 fours) and 3 catches

Key Moments

• New Zealand’s Powerplay: Bates and Plimmer’s aggressive start (67/1 in 7.2 overs) set the tone.

• Sophie Devine’s Blitz: Her unbeaten 57, including 51 runs in the last five overs, powered New Zealand to 160.

• India’s Early Collapse: Losing Verma, Mandhana, and Kaur early (42/3 in 5.4 overs) derailed the chase.

• Rosemary Mair’s Spell: Mair’s 4/19, including the final two wickets, sealed India’s fate.

• Lea Tahuhu’s Impact: Tahuhu’s 3 wickets, including Ghosh and Sharma, broke India’s middle order.

What Went Right for New Zealand?

New Zealand’s victory was a textbook example of a well-rounded team performance. Their openers laid a strong foundation, allowing Devine to capitalize in the later overs. The White Ferns’ bowlers were disciplined, with Mair and Tahuhu exploiting the pitch’s slight assistance to swing and seam. Eden Carson’s spin added variety, and Amelia Kerr’s all-round contribution was vital. Sophie Devine, named Player of the Match, led from the front with her batting and fielding, taking three catches to complement her 57 not out.

Captain Devine was thrilled with the team’s effort, saying, “I’m just incredibly proud of this group. To put together such a comprehensive performance is something I’m proud of. We’ve been targeting this game for a long time now.” The win ended New Zealand’s 10-match losing streak in T20Is, boosting their confidence as they prepared to face defending champions Australia next.

What Went Wrong for India?

For India, this was a wake-up call. Their bowling started poorly, conceding 67 runs in the powerplay. Deepti Sharma’s expensive spell (0/45) hurt their chances of restricting New Zealand to a lower total. In the chase, the top order failed to fire, with early dismissals putting pressure on the middle order. Harmanpreet Kaur admitted, “We didn’t play our best cricket today. They played better cricket than us, no doubt about that. We have chased 160-170 many times, but on that pitch, it was 10-15 runs too many.”

India’s fielding also let them down, with missed chances allowing New Zealand to pile on runs. The loss hurt their net run rate, making their upcoming matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka crucial for semi-final qualification.

The Bigger Picture

This match was more than just a game—it highlighted the growing competitiveness of women’s cricket. New Zealand’s victory showed that underdogs can upset favorites with the right strategy and execution. For India, it was a reminder that no team can afford to take any match lightly in a World Cup. With tough opponents like Australia still to come, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team will need to regroup quickly.

New Zealand, buoyed by this win, emerged as a dark horse in the tournament. Their aggressive approach and Devine’s leadership could make them a formidable force. As for India, the focus will be on bouncing back against Pakistan on October 6, where a big win is essential to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Why This Match Matters

For cricket fans, this match was a rollercoaster of emotions. New Zealand’s clinical performance outshone a star-studded Indian side that struggled to find its rhythm. The game showcased the beauty of T20 cricket—unpredictable, fast-paced, and full of surprises. Whether you’re a young fan just learning the game or a veteran who’s seen it all, this match was a reminder of why we love cricket: it’s a sport where anything can happen, and every ball counts.