New Zealand beat India by 58 runs: Women’s T20 World Cup – as it happened

New Zealand signal their intent to the rest of the field with a comprehensive battering of India in their tournament opener.

In a difficult group consisting of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia as well, this result will go a long way in helping realise their dream of progressing into the semi-finals.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of today’s match, and make sure to stay tuned as Al Jazeera continues to cover the T20 2024 World Cup in the UAE

On behalf of Kevin Hand, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

“I’m incredibly proud of this group. Everyone has been talking about our results and to come out and do this against a world-class side – I’m incredibly proud,” Kiwi captain Sophia Devine said.

“We laid a marker but we know there’s a lot of cricket still to play in this tournament. We’ve been getting some tremendous results in our powerplay. The openers showed incredible intent. We spoke about 150 being par but we know this India side and how much power they have in their lineup. We bowled at the stumps and executed our plans. Everyone performed.

“It’s always a great challenge to take on Australia [in New Zealand’s next match], playing in these conditions will level the playing field. We’ll take confidence out of this and look forward to facing them.”

Losing India captain Harmanpreet shared her thoughts at the post-match presentation: “We didn’t play our best cricket today. Going forward we have to think what areas we have to improve [in]. Every game now is important and we have to play our best cricket.

“We created chances, but they played better cricket than us. This is such a high stage where you can’t make these mistakes. We have chased 160-170 many times. But on that pitch, it was 10-15 runs too many. At one stage, the way they started, I was thinking it would be 190. This wasn’t the start we were expecting [in this tournament].”

“The platform that Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer laid at the top set the foundation for us,” the Kiwi captain told the official ICC broadcast. “We talked about putting on a competitive total and being there at the end, and seeing the cameos, that’s what it’s all about being part of this team.

“It was tough work out there when the pace was off, so I was a little scratchy to start off with but then got going. This group has worked so hard over the last six months and it’s incredible to see them get the reward today.”

The Kiwis secure their biggest defeat over India in T20Is to get their T20 2024 World Cup campaign off to the best possible start.

India’s batters, despite getting starts, were simply unable to build any partnerships of note throughout their innings.

New Zealand not only stemmed the boundaries but were also able to crucially take wickets at regular intervals. Some of India’s shot selection will come under great scrutiny once they have a chance to do the post-mortem.

Well, that didn’t take long as Renuka mishits a straightforward chance to backward point to end the match once and for all.

New Zealand finally end a 10-game losing streak with a comprehensive victory over India.

This time Shreyanka perishes as she gets a bottom edge that ends up in the hands of the fielder at mid-off.

Renuka is the final batter as India have seven balls to survive to prevent being bowled out.

Mair is into her final over. Soon after getting to their team 100, Shreyanka once again winds up.

This time she gets a top edge high over short third. Plimmer gets under it but ends up fumbling the chance a few times before it finally goes to ground.

That is the second drop in the field by New Zealand today.

There is a potential case for a review off the final ball as Shreyanka went for the reverse-sweep again, but is struck in front.

After much deliberation, Devine decides not to go for it as they have just the one left.

With her side sliding to defeat, Shreyanaka uncorks a lovely reverse-sweep which finds the gap at the deep third boundary.

Tahuhu finishes her spell with excellent figures of 3 for 15.

India are playing for pride now as the innings nears a close.

The batters look to survive as she allows just a solitary run off her first three balls.

Just three off the over as New Zealand continue to plug away.

Amelia, into her third over, gets some drift on her third ball which beats Vastrakar all ends up.

New Zealand are two away now as Asha joins Shreyanka in the middle.

It seems India are having their own little contest of how soft a dismissal you can have?

It is Deepti’s turn on this occassion, as she spoons yet another chance, this time to Devine at extra cover.

Shreyanka walks out as India slide closer to defeat. The 15th over ends with India 88 for 7.

Carson’s spell finishes with a sublime driven four from Vastrakar through the covers.

Doesn’t change the fact that her 2 for 34 has vastly helped her team take control of this innings.

She holds the batters to just two runs off her first three deliveries.

The required rate is at 12 now as India slide towards the inevitable.

If there is any criticism of New Zealand today, it has been some of the sloppy work in the field, but aside from that they have looked an absolute unit.

Yet another cheap dismissal costs India. This time it is Arundhatim, as she chips one harmlessly to extra cover, who takes it comfortably.

Mair, into her third over now, has her second wicket. Vastrakar is the new batter.

Just the four off the over as India’s chase has started to go off the rails.

New Zealand will want to continue to chip away at the wickets column as we head into the business end of the innings.