Captain Aimee Watkins led from the front with a solid half-century as New Zealand trounced India by 52 runs in the first semi-final of the ICC women's World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge, in Nottingham, on Thursday.
The 26-year-old smashed 89 from just 58 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries and two sixes in the process, to help the Kiwis post a formidable 145 for five in their 20 overs after electing to bat.
In reply, India put up a disappointing performance, scoring only 93 for nine in their 20 overs.
Anita Sharma was the top scorer with 24 from 27 deliveries, while Mithali Raj scored 20 from 22 deliveries, but the rest of the batters came undone against some disciplined New Zealand bowling and fielding.
In Sunday's final, New Zealand will play the winner of Friday's second semi-final between England and Australia.
New Zealand
Rumeli Dhar struck in her first over, claiming the wicket Lucy Doolan for 3, caught at midwicket attempting the slog sweep.
Watkins took time to settle down but once she found her footing, unleashed a few delightful boundaries, including consecutive ones off Dhar in the sixth over.
Amita Sharma started with a wicket in her first over, having Suzie Bates dismissed for 10, but ended up conceding 13 runs in that over.
Left-hander Watkins then went after Harmanpreet Kaur in her first over, slamming back to back boundaries to take New Zealand to 60 for two after eight overs.
With New Zealand threatening to run away with the game, India got a lucky break in the 11th over when Amy Satterthwaite (10) was run-out by Mithali Raj.
But Watkins was playing confidently from the other end and completed her half-century off 40 deliveries in the 14th over.
Leg-spinner Priyanka Roy also started with a wicket in her first over when she had Nicola Browne stumped for 5 to reduce the Kiwis to 96 for four in the 16th over.
Watkins then decided it was time to break loose. Leggie Gouhar Sultana suffered in her third over when Watkins powerfully swept her through the leg side for two boundaries and a six in the 17th over.
In the next over, Sharma bowled Sara McGlashan (4) as the batter attempted to slog across the line.
The final over of the innings also proved costly for India as both Sophie Devine and Watkins hit a six each for 17 runs.
Watkins finished unbeaten on a fine knock of 89 from 58 deliveries, with 10 boundaries and two sixes, as New Zealand posted a strong 145 for five in their 20 overs.
It was a remarkable effort from the left-hander considering that the second best score was the unbeaten 14 from Devine.
For India, Sharma registered best figures with two for 21 in four overs, while Dhar claimed one for 35 in four overs.
India:
India suffered an early jolt when opener Poonam Raut was dismissed for 5 in the second over of the innings after hitting straight to the square leg fielder.
That early reverse put India on the defensive, as both Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj resorted to a cautious approach in the Powerplay overs.
Chopra flicked Sian Ruck through square leg for a boundary as India reached 25 for one after six overs.
New Zealand then pegged India back further with two wickets in two deliveries.
Chopra was brilliantly caught by Bates, diving forward at midwicket, after a slow knock of 15 from 24 deliveries.
Harmanpreet Kaur was bowled by Ruck off the first delivery she faced. She shuffled across her stumps and lost her leg stump, leaving India reeling at 30 for three in the eighth over.
Reema Malhotra also fell cheaply, run-out for 4, as New Zealand took a firm grip on the game with India 42 for four after ten overs.
Mithali Raj also fell by the wayside when she holed out to McGlashan at long-on off Satterthwaite. India had lost half the side for 51 by the 12th over.
The parade of the Indian batters from the middle to the dugout continued. Sulakshna Naik (2) was out to a tame dismissal, hitting a full toss from Satterthwaite straight to McGlashan at mid-on.
Amita Sharma finally gave the few Indian fans who had turned up for the match something to cheer about at when she flicked Satterthwaite through square leg for the first six of the innings.
But she did not last long. She made 24 from 27 deliveries before lobbing one straight to Watkins at mid-off as India were reduced to 76 for seven in the 16th over.
Rumeli Dhar (4) danced down the wicket and lofted Devine straight to the long-on fielder.
New Zealand's fielding was top class while the Indians' running between the wickets left a lot to be desired.
Priyanka Roy (5) hit on the leg side and tried to steal a quick run but Tsukigawa caught her short with a direct hit at the bowling end.
The Indians finished on 93 for nine in their 20 overs and lost by 52 runs.
The margin of defeat showed the huge gulf that exists between the Indian team and the other top nations in women's Twenty20 cricket.
But they should be proud that they outdid the men's team and at least made it to the semi-finals.
Scorecard
New Zealand
Lucy Doolan c Chopra b Dhar 3
Suzie Bates c Kaur b Sharma 10
Aimee Watkins not out 89
Amy Satterthwaite run out 10
Nichola Browne st Naik b Roy 5
Sara McGlashan b Sharma 4
Sophie Devine not out 14
Extras: (lb-2, w-8) 10
Total: (for 5 wkts in 20 overs)145
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-45, 3-69, 4-96, 5-120
Bowling: J Goswami 4-0-22-0, R Dhar 4-1-35-1, A Sharma 4-0-21-2, H Kaur 1-0-14-0, P Raut 3-0-17-0, G Sultana 3-0-28-0, P Roy 1-0-6-1.
India
P Raut c Devine b Ruck 5
A Chopra c Bates b Pulford 15
M Raj c McGlashan b Satterthwaite 20
H Kaur b Ruck 0
R Malhotra run out 4
A Sharma c Watkins b Satterthwaite 24
S Naik c McGlashan b Bates 2
R Dhar c Bates b Devine 4
P Roy run out 5
J Goswami not out 9
G Sultana not out 2
Extras: (LB-1, WD-1, NB-1) 3
Total: (for 9 wickets in 20 overs) 93
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-30, 3-30, 4-42, 5-49, 6-58, 7-76, 8-77, 9-87.
Bowling: SFM Devine 4-0-17-1, S Ruck 4-0-18-2, KL Pulford 4-0-17-1, A Satterthwaite 4-0-20-2, S Bates 4-0-20-1.
