Colombo, Sep 23: India lost their only warm-up match ahead of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 to New Zealand by four wickets. The Indian women will play their opening match of the WT20 against Australia on September 27 at the Galle International Stadium at 13:30 IST.
After opting to bat first, India were bowled out for 100 with two balls to spare. Sian Ruck delivered the first blow with the wicket of Poonam Raut to end the opening partnership for 41. Four runs later, Morna Neilsen trapped Mithali Raj lbw for one to give the NZ an important breakthrough. Erin Bermingham then dismissed Amita Sharma for 32 on the last ball of the 11th over. The India opener was the top-scorer for her side. Harmanpreet Kaur was the next to return to the pavilion and was soon followed back by Jhulan Goswami to leave India at 85 for five. Promoted up the order, Goswami made 14 off 14 before being caught by Amy Satterthwaite off Frances Mackay.
The bottom half off the Indian line-up then crumbled without much resistance. The next five wickets fell for a paltry 15 runs.
The White Ferns used as many as seven bowlers to restrict the Indian side to a small total. Off-spinner Mackay claimed three wickets, while Sophie Devine bagged two scalps.
New Zealand women then chased down the target with 11 balls to spare. Leading from the front, skipper and opener Suzie Bates slammed a superb half-century, before retiring. Her 39-ball 51-run knock included six boundaries and one six. She hit India’s pace spearhead, Goswami, for four consecutive boundaries in the third over as she got her team off to a good start. But the rest of the line-up, with the exception of Mackay who chipped in with a useful 21 runs after contributing with the ball and Sara McGlashan, struggled as the Indian bowlers fought hard to keep their team in the game while defending a small total.
Archana Das claimed Satterthwaite in the second over, while Bisht sent back Devine a couple of overs later. And with Bates and Mackay retiring to the pavilion, NZ were 89 for four at the end of 16 overs. Although Bisht picked two quick wickets in the 18th over, India’s lower-order collapse cost them as Sara McGlashan guided NZ to a comfortable win with an unbeaten 13 off 10 balls.
Left-arm spinner Bisht was the most impressive of the Indian bowlers. She claimed three wickets in three overs for just six runs.
Brief scores: India 100 all out in 19.4 overs (A Sharma 32, H Kaur 20, F Mackay 3/13, S Devine 2/18) lost to New Zealand 101/6 in 18.1 overs (S Bates 51, F Mackay 21, E Bisht 3/6) by four wickets
