Fast bowler Shikha Pandey showed great composure and executed her plans brilliantly to help India register a close three-run win over New Zealand in their Group A encounter of ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Melbourne on Thursday. Defending a modest 133, Indian bowlers picked up three wickets inside first 10 overs, including their skipper Sophie Devine, which pushed New Zealand on the backfoot. However, Maddy Green (24 off 23), Katey Martin (25 off 28) and Amelia Kerr (34 not out off 19) kept New Zealand hopes alive and gave Indian bowlers some nervy moments. Needing 34 off 12 balls, Kerr collected 18 runs in the penultimate over bowled by Poonam Yadav. Hayley Jensen began the final over smashing a boundary on the very first ball. Kerr scored boundary on the penultimate delivery to make it five from the last ball. However, Shikha Pandey fired in a brilliant yorker to finish off things in style as India reached the semi-finals. Earlier, Shafali Verma (46 off 34 balls) batted with great maturity as India posted 133/8. Rest of the batters couldn't capitalise on the start and stuttered towards the end. Radha Yadav scored a 9-ball 14 to give some respectability to the total. For New Zealand, Rosemary Mair (2/27) and Amelia Kerr (2/21) took two wickets each.
(SCORECARD)
India Women
New Zealand Women