In a high-stakes encounter at the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand secured a commanding 58-run victory over India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
New Zealand, led by a stellar performance from Sophie Devine, who scored an impressive 57 not out off 36 balls, set a challenging target of 160 runs for India after opting to bat first. The Indian bowling attack saw Renuka Thakur Singh as the standout performer, finishing with figures of 2 for 27.
In response, India struggled to find their footing, being dismissed for just 102 runs in 19 overs. Rosemary Mair was instrumental for New Zealand, claiming 4 wickets for 19 runs.
The match was marred by controversy during the final ball of the 14th over of New Zealand’s innings. After Amelia Kerr hit a delivery from Deepti Sharma to long-off and completed a single, Harmanpreet Kaur—who collected the ball—did not throw it and instead ran towards the bowler, believing the over had concluded. In a surprising turn of events, Sophie Devine attempted to take a second run, prompting Harmanpreet to throw the ball at the striker’s end, resulting in Kerr’s dismissal. However, the umpire ruled her not out, stating the ball was dead, much to Harmanpreet’s visible frustration.
This incident overshadowed what was otherwise a decisive win for New Zealand, further fueling discussions around umpiring decisions in high-pressure matches.