New Zealand stun India at the Women's T20 World Cup as Australia prepares for Sri Lanka clash

New Zealand dismissed India for 102 to claim a shock victory by 58 runs in the Women's T20 World Cup overnight.

New Zealand posted a challenging 4-160 and then rolled India in 19 overs for only its second win in 14 T20s this year.

Captain Sophie Devine's unbeaten 57 off 36 balls with seven boundaries propelled New Zealand's total in the final five overs.

A run-out dispute stopped play briefly when India thought it bagged Amelia Kerr, who was trying to sneak a second run in the 14th over.

The umpires ruled the run out irrelevant because it was a dead ball. Kerr had walked to almost the rope boundary before the ruling by the fourth umpire.

India protested to no avail, but there was no damage as Kerr was caught in the covers off the next ball.

Devine's strong finish followed a solid foundation of 67 off 46 balls by openers Georgia Plimmer (34) and Suzie Bates (27).

Plimmer and Bates perished while looking for big hits, but India's hope of a comeback was stymied by Devine raising her bat for her fourth T20 half-century off 33 balls.

New Zealand racked up 51 runs off the final five overs.

Rosemary Mair trapped India captain Harmanpreet Kaur inside the power play in a scene-stealing 4-19.

Mair claimed the last two wickets off successive balls, and fast bowler Lea Tahuhu chipped in with 3-15 to help bundle out India with an over to spare.

Eden Carsen struck off her first delivery with a caught-and-bowled of Shafali Verma, and in her next over dismissed Smriti Mandhana on 12.

India couldn't recover after the dismissal of its senior pros inside the power play.

Earlier, South Africa thumped the West Indies with a 10 wicket victory.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt (59 not out) and Tazmin Brits (57 not out) made light work of South Africa's chase, reaching 119 without loss with 13 balls to spare.

Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba grabbed a career-best 4-29 as the West Indies were restricted to 6-118.

West Indies tried eight bowlers to try to prise out Wolvaardt and Brits, who struck 13 boundaries between them.

Spinner Karishma Ramharack came closest to the breakthrough but couldn't hold on to a sharp return catch when Wolvaardt was on 33.

Fight on for spots in dominant Australian team

Australia is ready to launch its Women's T20 World Cup defence in baking Sharjah with competition for places in the all-conquering side just about as hot as the soaring temperatures in the UAE.

As they prepared for their opening match against Sri Lanka, who lost their first match to Pakistan at the same venue on Thursday, coach Shelley Nitschke said it was still a tough battle to grab a spot in the team with so many world-class operators in their squad.

Having had a good look at the low, slow Sharjah pitch, Australia was left with some big decisions, in particular about the composition of their bowling attack, before the Sri Lanka clash at 8pm on Saturday.

Nitschke had encouraging reports about the fitness of brilliant young batter Phoebe Litchfield, who had missed their two warm-up matches with a groin injury, and Grace Harris, the ebullient all-rounder who has also been sidelined with a calf strain.

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The 21-year-old Litchfield looks certain to be included if fully fit, while big-hitting Harris's spin was also set to be a considerable asset if it's deemed she's not too rusty after missing the recent New Zealand series.

"Grace is tracking well — she's on track, going well," Nitschke said.

"For sure. It's tough for spots, and we've got some really good players in our squad of 15, so I think there's certainly still some tough decisions that need to be made. We just need to see where that lands with Grace's fitness and whatnot."

The idea of a four-pronged spin attack could prove irresistible after Thursday's two matches at Sharjah featured 22 wickets falling to the slow bowlers.

"That should guide us into which way we want to go there," Nitschke said.

AP/AAP

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