In a dramatic fightback, the White Ferns last night beat India by 23 runs in their opening twenty20 game at Westpac Stadium.
Chasing 160 for victory, India was cruising at 102 for one, but an Amelia Kerr breakthrough and a Lea Tahuhu barrage sparked a meltdown, and it folded for 136.
Kerr took the key wicket of Smriti Mandhana who blasted 10 boundaries in scoring 58 off 34 balls, as she and Jemimah Rodrigues added a record-tying 98 for the second wicket.
But just as all looked lost, Kerr had Mandhana caught in the deep where Hannah Rowe held a smart catch, then Tahuhu drew three consecutive loose shots to rip through the middle order.
Rodrigues got an edge through to Katey Martin behind the stumps, and two overs later, two more wickets fell to the seamer, with Kerr claiming two catches.
From 102 for one, India was 111 for five as the White Ferns stepped up.
Earlier, Sophie Devine led the way for New Zealand with 64 from 48 balls, suppported by captain Amy Satterthwaite (33). Martin also blasted 27 off 14 balls.
