Cricket is more than just a sport in India—it’s an emotion that unites millions. On October 4, 2024, the India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in a high-stakes match during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai. The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, with New Zealand emerging victorious by 58 runs in a match that showcased both brilliance and heartbreak. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting encounter, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and what it all means, in a way that’s easy for anyone to follow, whether you’re a cricket newbie or a die-hard fan.
The Stage: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
The match was the fourth game of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, played at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The pitch was expected to be a bit slow, favoring bowlers who could mix up their pace and spinners who could grip the ball. With India and New Zealand both in Group A alongside powerhouses like Australia, this game was crucial for setting the tone in the tournament. New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that would prove to be a game-changer.
New Zealand’s Batting: A Strong Start and a Fiery Finish
New Zealand’s innings was a tale of solid foundations and explosive finishing. Their openers, Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, got off to a flying start, racing to 50 runs in just 5.4 overs without losing a wicket. Bates, a veteran of the game, played with elegance, while Plimmer showed youthful aggression, smashing three fours and a six. Their partnership set the stage for a big total, but India fought back with some clever bowling.
India’s spinners, led by Asha Sobhana and Arundhati Reddy, struck in quick succession. Bates was caught by Shreyanka Patil at deep midwicket for 27, and Plimmer fell to Sobhana for 34, caught by Smriti Mandhana at long-on. At 67/2 after 8.1 overs, New Zealand’s momentum slowed as India’s spinners tightened the screws. Amelia Kerr, a key all-rounder, struggled to get going, scoring just 13 off 22 balls before being caught off Renuka Singh Thakur’s bowling.
But then came the game-changer: New Zealand’s captain, Sophie Devine. Walking in at No. 4, Devine played a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 57 off 36 balls. Her innings was a masterclass in pacing—she started cautiously but unleashed a barrage of boundaries in the death overs, finishing with seven fours and a strike rate of 158.33. Supported by Brooke Halliday’s quickfire 16 off 12 and Maddy Green’s unbeaten 5, New Zealand piled on 51 runs in the final five overs to post a formidable 160/4 in 20 overs.
India’s bowlers worked hard, with Renuka Singh Thakur leading the way, taking 2 wickets for 27 runs in her four overs. Asha Sobhana was economical, giving away just 22 runs for her one wicket, but Deepti Sharma had a tough day, conceding 45 runs without a wicket. The Indian fielding was a mixed bag—Richa Ghosh dropped a catch early on, but the team made up for it with some sharp work later.
India’s Chase: A Disastrous Start
Chasing 161 on a tricky pitch was always going to be tough, but India’s batting lineup, packed with stars like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, gave fans hope. Unfortunately, the chase got off to a nightmare start. Shafali Verma, known for her aggressive strokeplay, was dismissed for just 2, caught and bowled by Eden Carson in the second over. Mandhana, India’s vice-captain, started with a boundary but fell for 12, caught at long-on off Carson. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, under pressure to anchor the innings, was trapped lbw by Rosemary Mair for 15. By the end of the powerplay, India were reeling at 43/3.
The middle order couldn’t recover from the early blows. Jemimah Rodrigues showed some fight with 13 off 11, but she was caught off Lea Tahuhu’s bowling. Richa Ghosh, the wicketkeeper-batter, struggled to find her rhythm, scoring 12 off 19 before being caught by Devine. Deepti Sharma, India’s reliable all-rounder, managed 13 but couldn’t stay long enough to build a partnership. The lower order crumbled under pressure, with Arundhati Reddy (1), Pooja Vastrakar (8), and Shreyanka Patil (7) falling in quick succession.
Rosemary Mair was the star for New Zealand’s bowlers, finishing with a sensational 4/19, including the final two wickets of Shreyanka Patil and Renuka Singh Thakur off consecutive balls. Lea Tahuhu chipped in with 3/15, while Eden Carson’s early breakthroughs (2/34) set the tone. India were bowled out for 102 in 19 overs, falling 58 runs short of the target.
Key Moments That Defined the Match
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New Zealand’s Powerplay Dominance: Scoring 55/0 in the first six overs gave New Zealand a head start. Bates and Plimmer’s aggressive approach put India’s bowlers under pressure early on.
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Sophie Devine’s Unbeaten 57: Devine’s ability to accelerate in the death overs turned a good total into a daunting one. Her 50 off 32 balls was a match-defining knock, earning her the Player of the Match award.
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India’s Top-Order Collapse: Losing Shafali, Mandhana, and Harmanpreet in the powerplay was a blow India couldn’t recover from. The early wickets disrupted their game plan and piled pressure on the middle order.
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Rosemary Mair’s 4-Fer: Mair’s disciplined bowling, especially her ability to pick up wickets at crucial moments, sealed India’s fate. Her final two wickets ended any hopes of a late fightback.
The India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard : A Detailed Breakdown
Below is the full India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, showing every batter’s contribution, bowling figures, and key match details.
| New Zealand Women Innings (160/4, 20 overs) | | | | | | | |———————————————–|—|—|—|—|—| | Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | | Suzie Bates | 27 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 112.50 | | Georgia Plimmer | 34 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 147.83 | | Amelia Kerr | 13 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 59.09 | | Sophie Devine (c) | 57* | 36 | 7 | 0 | 158.33 | | Brooke Halliday | 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 133.33 | | Maddy Green | 5* | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.67 | | Extras | 8 (4b, 4w) | | | | | | Total | 160/4 (20 overs) | | | | | | Did Not Bat: Izzy Gaze, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson | | | | | |
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Fall of Wickets |
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67/1 (Suzie Bates, 7.4 ov) |
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67/2 (Georgia Plimmer, 8.1 ov) |
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99/3 (Amelia Kerr, 14.2 ov) |
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145/4 (Brooke Halliday, 18.4 ov) |
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Indian Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Pooja Vastrakar |
1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 |
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Renuka Singh Thakur |
4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
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Deepti Sharma |
4 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 11.25 |
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Arundhati Reddy |
4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
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Asha Sobhana |
4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 5.50 |
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Shreyanka Patil |
3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 8.33 |
| India Women Innings (102/10, 19 overs) | | | | | | | |——————————————–|—|—|—|—|—| | Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | | Smriti Mandhana | 12 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 92.31 | | Shafali Verma | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | | Harmanpreet Kaur (c) | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 107.14 | | Jemimah Rodrigues | 13 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 118.18 | | Richa Ghosh (wk) | 12 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 63.16 | | Deepti Sharma | 13 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 72.22 | | Arundhati Reddy | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 | | Pooja Vastrakar | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 114.29 | | Shreyanka Patil | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 53.85 | | Asha Sobhana | 6* | 10 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 | | Renuka Singh Thakur | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | | Extras | 13 (2b, 11w) | | | | | | Total | 102/10 (19 overs) | | | | |
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Fall of Wickets |
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11/1 (Shafali Verma, 1.1 ov) |
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28/2 (Smriti Mandhana, 4.4 ov) |
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42/3 (Harmanpreet Kaur, 5.4 ov) |
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55/4 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 8.5 ov) |
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70/5 (Richa Ghosh, 11 ov) |
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75/6 (Arundhati Reddy, 12.2 ov) |
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88/7 (Deepti Sharma, 14.4 ov) |
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90/8 (Pooja Vastrakar, 15.3 ov) |
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102/9 (Shreyanka Patil, 18.5 ov) |
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102/10 (Renuka Singh Thakur, 19 ov) |
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New Zealand Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Jess Kerr |
3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4.33 |
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Eden Carson |
4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
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Rosemary Mair |
4 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 4.75 |
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Amelia Kerr |
4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 4.75 |
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Lea Tahuhu |
4 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 3.75 |
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Match Details |
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Date |
October 4, 2024 |
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Venue |
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai |
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Toss |
New Zealand Women won, elected to bat |
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Umpires |
Anna Harris, Jacqueline Williams |
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TV Umpire |
Claire Polosak |
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Match Referee |
Shandre Fritz |
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Player of the Match |
Sophie Devine (57* off 36 balls) |
What Went Wrong for India?
India’s performance was a stark contrast to their reputation as one of the tournament favorites. The early collapse of the top order was the biggest blow—losing three wickets in the powerplay put them on the back foot. The middle order, despite having talented players like Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, couldn’t build partnerships to steady the ship. The required run rate climbed steadily, and by the halfway mark, India were at 63/4 compared to New Zealand’s 72/2, a gap that proved too wide to bridge.
Fielding lapses, like Richa Ghosh’s dropped catch of Suzie Bates, didn’t help either. While India’s spinners did well to pull things back in the middle overs, the bowling unit gave away 10-15 extra runs, as admitted by captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the post-match presentation. Deepti Sharma’s expensive spell (0/45) was a rare off-day for the usually reliable all-rounder.
New Zealand’s Triumph: A Team Effort
For New Zealand, this win was a statement. Coming into the tournament on a 10-match losing streak in T20Is, they played with freedom and aggression. Sophie Devine led from the front, not just with the bat but also with three catches in the second innings. The bowling unit was disciplined, with Rosemary Mair and Lea Tahuhu exploiting the conditions perfectly. Eden Carson’s early wickets and Amelia Kerr’s tight spell ensured India had no breathing room.
The White Ferns’ fielding was top-notch, with Devine, Maddy Green, and substitute Molly Penfold taking crucial catches. This victory snapped their losing streak and boosted their confidence ahead of their next match against Australia.
What’s Next for India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Both Teams?
For India, this loss was a wake-up call. With Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka still to play in Group A, they need to win at least two of their remaining matches to stay in the semi-final race. The net run rate took a hit, so big wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka are crucial. Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized the need to regroup and play their best cricket moving forward.
New Zealand, buoyed by this win, face a tough challenge against defending champions Australia next. Their aggressive approach and newfound confidence could make them a dark horse in the tournament. Sophie Devine’s leadership and all-round contribution will be key.
Why This Match Matters
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. The performances of young players like Georgia Plimmer and veterans like Sophie Devine added to the excitement, proving that women’s cricket is thriving.
For fans, the match was a mix of highs and lows. New Zealand supporters celebrated a rare win over India, while Indian fans were left hoping for a strong comeback. Cricket, after all, is about resilience, and both teams will carry lessons from this game into their next battles.
Final Thoughts
The India Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on October 4, 2024, was a thrilling chapter in the Women’s T20 World Cup. New Zealand’s clinical performance outshone a star-studded Indian side that struggled to find its rhythm. Sophie Devine’s heroics and Rosemary Mair’s bowling masterclass were the highlights, while India’s top-order collapse was a lesson in the importance of a strong start.
