Cricket is more than just a game in countries like New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard—it’s a passion that brings people together, young and old, to cheer for their favorite teams. When the New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team, known as the White Ferns, takes on the India Women’s National Cricket Team, it’s always a match filled with excitement, skill, and heart. In this article, we’ll dive into a recent clash between these two teams, specifically their encounter in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, held on October 4, 2024, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. We’ll break down the match scorecard, highlight key moments, and explain what made this game so special, all in a way that’s easy to follow for fans of any age. Let’s get started!
The Build-Up to the Match
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is one of the biggest stages in women’s cricket, where the best teams from around the world compete for glory. Both New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard came into this match with high hopes. The White Ferns, led by captain Sophie Devine, were looking to make a strong statement after some inconsistent performances in recent times. India, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, were favorites, boasting a talented lineup with players like Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma. The stakes were high, as this was a group-stage match in a tough group that included powerhouses like Australia.
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium was buzzing with energy. The pitch was expected to favor batters early on but slow down as the game progressed, making it a tactical battle for both teams. New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
New Zealand’s Batting: A Solid Start and a Strong Finish
The White Ferns opened their innings with Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, two players known for their aggressive yet smart approach. They got off to a flying start, scoring quickly in the first six overs. Bates, a veteran of the game, played some beautiful shots, while Plimmer showed why she’s considered a rising star. Together, they laid a solid foundation, putting on 67 runs for the first wicket.
However, India’s bowlers, led by their spinners, fought back in the middle overs. Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil bowled tightly, slowing down the scoring rate and picking up key wickets. Plimmer was dismissed for 34, and Bates fell soon after for 27, leaving New Zealand at a slightly shaky 80/3 after 12 overs. The Indian spinners were turning the screws, and it looked like they might restrict New Zealand to a modest total.
Enter Sophie Devine, the White Ferns’ captain and one of the most experienced players in the game. Devine took charge, playing with a mix of caution and aggression. She was supported by Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday, who played crucial cameo roles. The turning point came in the final five overs, where New Zealand went all out. Devine’s unbeaten 57 off 36 balls, including powerful shots all around the ground, helped the White Ferns finish with a flourish. They scored 51 runs in the last five overs, ending their innings at 160/4 in 20 overs—a challenging total on a pitch that was starting to slow down.
India’s Chase: A Tough Day at the Office
Chasing 161 to win, India needed a strong start from their openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. However, New Zealand’s bowlers had other plans. Rosemary Mair and Lea Tahuhu bowled with discipline, keeping the Indian batters under pressure. Mandhana, known for her elegant strokeplay, struggled to get going and was dismissed early for 12. Verma followed soon after, leaving India in trouble at 35/2.
Harmanpreet Kaur, batting at No. 3, tried to steady the ship alongside Jemimah Rodrigues. The pair showed glimpses of a fightback, but New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly Mair and Tahuhu, were relentless. Mair’s ability to vary her pace and Tahuhu’s raw speed caused problems for India’s middle order. Rodrigues fell for 13, and Kaur, despite her best efforts, couldn’t find the boundaries she needed, getting out for 15.
The Indian batting lineup, usually so strong, kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Richa Ghosh, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, was expected to provide some fireworks, but she was outfoxed by a slower ball from Tahuhu, scoring just 12. Deepti Sharma tried to keep the chase alive, but the required run rate kept climbing. By the halfway mark, India needed 98 runs off the last 10 overs—a tall order.
New Zealand’s fielding was another highlight. Sophie Devine took three catches, including a stunning grab to dismiss Ghosh, and the team’s energy in the field kept India under constant pressure. In the end, India were bowled out for 102 in 19 overs, falling 58 runs short of the target. Mair finished with an impressive 4/19, while Tahuhu took 3/15, earning New Zealand a comprehensive victory.
Key Performers and Moments
This match was defined by standout performances from New Zealand. Sophie Devine was the star, earning the Player of the Match award for her unbeaten 57 and her leadership on the field. Her ability to accelerate in the death overs and take crucial catches showed why she’s one of the best all-rounders in the game. Rosemary Mair’s bowling was equally impressive, with her four wickets breaking the back of India’s batting lineup. Lea Tahuhu’s fiery spell ensured India never got momentum in their chase.
For India, the spinners Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil were the pick of the bowlers, each taking a wicket and keeping things tight in the middle overs. However, the batting unit struggled, with no player able to play the kind of match-defining knock that Devine delivered for New Zealand.
One of the key moments came in the 15th over of India’s chase when Richa Ghosh was dismissed. Her wicket was a turning point, as India’s hopes rested on her ability to score quickly. The dropped catch by Plimmer in the field could have been costly for New Zealand, but they held their nerve, and it didn’t affect the outcome.
What the Captains Said
After the match, Sophie Devine was full of praise for her team. “I’m really proud of this group,” she said. “People have been talking about our recent results, but to come out against a world-class side like India and produce this performance is incredible. Our openers set the tone, and we executed our plans with the ball.” Devine also highlighted the team’s preparation, saying they had been targeting this match for a long time.
Harmanpreet Kaur, on the other hand, admitted that India didn’t play their best. “We created chances but couldn’t capitalize,” she said. “They played better cricket than us today. We know every game is important from here, and we need to improve our fielding and batting.” Despite the loss, Kaur remained optimistic, saying the team would learn from their mistakes and come back stronger.
The New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Breaking It Down
Below is the detailed scorecard for the match, presented in a clear and easy-to-read format. This table includes the batting and bowling figures for both teams, so you can see exactly how the game unfolded.
|
New Zealand Women Innings (20 Overs) |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Suzie Bates |
27 | 24 | 4 | 0 |
c Kaur b Sharma |
|
Georgia Plimmer |
34 | 23 | 6 | 0 |
b Patil |
|
Amelia Kerr |
13 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
c Ghosh b Renuka |
|
Sophie Devine (c) |
57* | 36 | 7 | 0 |
Not Out |
|
Brooke Halliday |
16 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
c Mandhana b Deepti |
|
Maddy Green |
5* | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Not Out |
|
Extras (lb 2, w 6) |
8 | ||||
|
Total |
160/4 |
(20 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 67/1 (Plimmer, 7.2 ov), 80/2 (Bates, 9.5 ov), 104/3 (Kerr, 13.4 ov), 142/4 (Halliday, 17.3 ov)
|
India Women Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Renuka Singh |
4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
|
Pooja Vastrakar |
3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 10.33 |
|
Deepti Sharma |
4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
|
Shreyanka Patil |
4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
|
Radha Yadav |
3 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 8.67 |
|
Harmanpreet Kaur |
2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
|
India Women Innings (Target: 161) |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Smriti Mandhana |
12 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
c Devine b Mair |
|
Shafali Verma |
9 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
b Tahuhu |
|
Harmanpreet Kaur (c) |
15 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
c Kerr b Mair |
|
Jemimah Rodrigues |
13 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
c Bates b Jonas |
|
Richa Ghosh (wk) |
12 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
c Devine b Tahuhu |
|
Deepti Sharma |
13 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
c Halliday b Mair |
|
Pooja Vastrakar |
8 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
b Kerr |
|
Shreyanka Patil |
7 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
c Devine b Mair |
|
Radha Yadav |
6 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
b Tahuhu |
|
Renuka Singh |
5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Not Out |
|
Saima Thakor |
2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Run Out (Kerr) |
|
Extras (lb 3, w 17) |
20 | ||||
|
Total |
102 |
(19 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 20/1 (Mandhana, 3.1 ov), 35/2 (Verma, 4.5 ov), 49/3 (Kaur, 7.2 ov), 60/4 (Rodrigues, 9.3 ov), 76/5 (Ghosh, 13.2 ov), 80/6 (Sharma, 14.4 ov), 87/7 (Vastrakar, 15.5 ov), 90/8 (Patil, 16.3 ov), 98/9 (Yadav, 18.1 ov), 102/10 (Thakor, 18.6 ov)
|
New Zealand Women Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jess Kerr |
4 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 4.50 |
|
Rosemary Mair |
4 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 4.75 |
|
Lea Tahuhu |
4 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 3.75 |
|
Eden Carson |
3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 |
|
Fran Jonas |
2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8.00 |
|
Amelia Kerr |
2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 6.00 |
Result: New Zealand Women won by 58 runs.
Player of the Match: Sophie Devine (57* off 36 balls, 3 catches).
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
Date: October 4, 2024.
What Made This Match Special?
This match was a classic example of T20 cricket at its best—full of drama, skill, and momentum swings. For New Zealand, it was a statement win. They had been under pressure after a string of losses in T20Is, but this performance showed they could compete with the best. Sophie Devine’s leadership, both with the bat and in the field, was inspirational, and the team’s energy was infectious.
For India, it was a wake-up call. Despite their talent, they struggled to adapt to the conditions and made costly mistakes in the field. Dropped catches and a lack of partnerships hurt their chase, and they’ll need to regroup quickly to stay alive in the tournament. The match highlighted the importance of seizing key moments in high-pressure games.
Looking Ahead
For New Zealand, this win gave them a massive boost as they prepared to face Australia in their next match. The White Ferns showed they could handle pressure and execute their plans against a strong side, which bodes well for their campaign. India, meanwhile, faced an uphill battle in a tough group. Their next game against Pakistan was a must-win, and they needed to address their fielding and batting issues to bounce back.
Why Cricket Fans Love These Matches
Whether you’re a young fan just learning the game or a lifelong supporter, matches like this are what make cricket so special. The battle between bat and ball, the tension of a close chase, and the brilliance of players like Sophie Devine and Deepti Sharma keep us glued to the action. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is a celebration of women’s cricket, and this game showed just how far the sport has come.
If you’re new to cricket, here’s a quick tip: watch how the captains make decisions, like when to bring on a spinner or when to go for quick runs. It’s like a chess game on a field! And if you’re a seasoned fan, you’ll appreciate the tactical battle between India’s spinners and New Zealand’s batters, or the way Mair and Tahuhu bowled with such control.
Final Thoughts
The New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in the 2024 T20 World Cup was a thrilling display of cricket. From Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer’s explosive start to Sophie Devine’s match-defining knock and Rosemary Mair’s brilliant bowling, the White Ferns were in top form. India fought hard but couldn’t overcome their early setbacks, making this a day to remember for New Zealand fans.
