JOIN USDiana David (4/27) wrecked havoc with her off-spin but New Zealand recovered from a mid-innings collapse to post a competitive 139 for eight from their 20 overs.
India fell short of the target despite Mithali’s 44 and identical 28s from opener Sulakshana Naik and Amita Sharma as the Kiwi bowlers restricted them to 129 for eight.
Sian Ruck (2/17) and Lucy Doolan (2/18) starred for New Zealand with the ball sharing four wickets between them.
Earlier, opting to bat, Suzie Bates scored a 30-ball 32 up the order and was ably supported by Nicola Browne (24), Rachel Priest (20) and Sara McGlashan (15) to take New Zealand to 139.
Diana was the star performer for India with the ball, picking up four crucial Kiwi wickets for 24 runs. Reema Malhotra also chipped in with two wickets giving away 25 runs.
However, the Indian batters could not replicate the bowlers’ success and six of them failed to even touch double figures.
Brief scores: New Zealand: 139/8 in 20 overs (Suzie Bates 32; Daina David 4/27, R Malhotra 2/25) bt India: 129/8 in 20 overs (Sulakshana Naik 28, Mithali Raj 44; SEA Ruck 2/17, LR Doolan 2/18).
Narrow win for SL
Sri Lanka started their campaign in style, edging past sub-continent rivals Pakistan by one run in the opening Group B match.
Defending a modest 108, Sri Lankan eves produced a disciplined bowling and fielding display to bowl out Pakistan for 107 in the last ball of the innings to register the narrow victory.
Eshani Kaushalya (2/30) was the pick of the Lankan bowlers and she was ably supported by some sharp fielding, which accounted for as many as six run outs. Only three Pakistani batters — Bismah Maroof (42 off 40), Javeria Khan (14) and Sajjida Shah (12) could make double figures apart from 18 run extras. For Pakistan Sana Mir (2/12), Nida Dar (2/10) and Javeria Khan (2/24) scalped two wickets each to restrict the S ri Lankans to the paltry total.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka: 108 all out in 19.3 (SI Galagedara 25; Sana Mir 2/12, Javeria Khan 2/24, Nida Dar 2/10) bt Pakistan: 107 all out in 20 overs (Bismah Maroof 42; LE Kaushalya 2/30).