India’s tour of New Zealand started on a sour note as they lost the one-off T20I by 18 runs.
India won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first.
Although both the teams didn’t have their best put playing XI, New Zealand managed their players very well.
In the first innings, New Zealand remained cautious in the first few overs of the match. Pooja Vastrakar threw a maiden over in these initial overs.
But Simran Bahadur was taken advantage of by New Zealand’s skipper Sophie Devine. She hit two sixes and four off her successive deliveries.
Suzie Bates was on song as well and she picked up on Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
They both put up a 60-run partnership between them and towards the end of the 8th over, Devine gave a catch to deep mid-wicket.
Amelia Kerr came on to bat but struggled against India’s bowling lineup. Maddy Green on the other end ensured that the hosts kept the run flow alive.
But it was Lea Tahuhu who batted brilliantly and took the hosts’ score to 155.
India, in the second innings, too played with a watchful attitude. With Smriti Mandhana in isolation, Shafali Verma opened the batting with Yastika Bhatia for the visitors.
After their 41-run partnership both the openers were picked up by Amelia Kerr.
S Meghana tried to pace up the innings from one side, but she lost partners at the other end quickly. India never looked comfortable in the chase and eventually finished up at 137/8.
India will now face the hosts for a 5-match One Day series in Queenstown as this series is being looked at as a preparation for the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
