New Zealand beat India by 18 runs in the Women's T20I at John Davies Oval in Queenstown by 18 runs. Asked to chase 156, India could only manage 137/8.
India replaced Smriti Mandhana with S. Meghana, while New Zealand missed the service of Amy Satterthwaite. Meghana had a decent outing where she top-scored with 37.
Simran Bahadur shared the new-ball duties with Pooja Vastrakar. The duo conceded just six runs from the first three overs. Bahadur might have got a wicket on her first ball, but she could not hold on to a return catch from Sophie Devine.
Vastrakar's second over was a maiden, but Bahadur conceded two sixes and a four off the first three balls of the fourth over. Deepti Sharma then provided India with a breakthrough by getting rid of Devine on 31.
In the six overs after the Powerplay, India conceded only one boundary. Rajeshwari Gayakwad then bowled Suzie Bates (36) to reduce New Zealand to 80/2. Lea Tahuhu struck four fours and a six for her 14-ball 27 to take her team to 155/5.
For India, Vastrakar and Sharma took two wickets each.
In response, Yastika Bhatia and Shafali Verma got India off to a decent start, adding 41 for the opening wicket. Tahuhu tried to test Bhatia with a short-pitched ball, but the latter responded with a well-timed hook to bring the first six of the innings. Verma ended the Powerplay with two successive boundaries.
Amelia Kerr then dismissed both Bhatia (26) and Verma (13) in the space of three deliveries to reduce India to 42/2. Barring Meghana, who struck six fours for her 30-ball 37, none of the batters stepped up to the occasion. In the end, India finished on 137/8.
For the hosts, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, and Hayley Jansen picked two wickets each.
New Zealand 155/5 in 20 overs (Suzie Bates 36; Pooja Vastrakar 2-16) beat India 137/8 in 20 overs (S. Meghana 37; Jess Kerr 2-20). Player of the Match: Lea Tahuhu.