New Zealand ease to ten-run win

New Zealand's women launched their World Twenty20 campaign with a comfortable 10-run victory over India in St Kitts, a result which moved them to the top of Group B on net run-rate. Chasing 140 for victory after a brisk batting performance from New Zealand led by Susie Bates (32 from 30 balls), India lost wickets at regular intervals to finish up on 129 for 8.

It was a disjointed reply from India, who lost Poonam Raut for a duck in the third over, and though Mithali Raj produced a spirited 44 from 36 balls, Sian Ruck and Lucy Doolan claimed two cheap wickets apiece to peg them back to 56 for 4 in the 12th over.

Jhulan Goswami then became the first of two run-out victims for Bates, whose dismissal of Raj at 91 for 6 effectively ended the match as a contest. With rain in the air, Amita Sharma kept up the resistance with 28 from 16 balls, adding 27 for the ninth wicket with Rumeli Dhar, but it was too little too late.

Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and batted with purpose from the very start, although the offspinner Diana David ensured that none of their set batsmen was able to go onto a substantial score. She finished up with 4 for 27 from her four overs, including the wickets of both of New Zealand's top-scorers, Bates and Nicola Browne (24).