India won their first T20 World Cup match by 34 runs against New Zealand at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Riding on Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s maiden T20 century, India scored a mammoth 195 for five wickets. In response, New Zealand finished their innings at 160 for nine wickets.
The young Indian squad, under their recently-appointed coach Ramesh Powar, had a timid opening with Taniya Bhatia (9), Smriti Mandhana (2) and debutant Dayalan Hemalatha (15) falling on cheaply. But Kaur along with Jemimah Rodrigues mended the innings with some brilliant stroke plays. The Indian skipper was unstoppable as she completed her century off just 50 deliveries. She threw the bowlers all around the park as her 103-run knock included seven boundaries and eight colossal sixes. Jemimah Rodrigues provided terrific support from the other end with a smart 59.
In reply, New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals. Suzie Bates was the highest scorer for them with 67 runs. For India Poonam Yadav ad Hemlatha took 3 wickets each. The other wickets were divided between Radha Yadav who took 2 wickets and Arundhati Reddy.
Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian women cricketer to score a T20I hundred. It is the third century in Women’s World T20. Kaur also became the third fastest centurion in women’s T20.
