Premature umpire call leaves India fuming in shock World Cup loss to New Zealand
New Zealand snapped a 10-game losing streak to smash India by 58 runs in their T20 World Cup openers.
And in a day of massive results, South Africa pasted the West Indies by 10 wickets.
New Zealand posted a challenging 4-160 and then rolled India in 19 overs for its second win in 14 T20s this year.
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Captain Sophie Devine's unbeaten 57 off 36 balls with seven boundaries propelled New Zealand’s total in the last five overs.
A run-out dispute stopped play for more than five minutes when India looked to have snared Amelia Kerr, who was trying to sneak a second run in the 14th over.
Amelia Kerr was given not out despite clearly being run out in New Zealand's big win over India. Prime Video
Kerr had taken a single to long off from the final ball of the over. When skipper Harmanpreet Kaur fielded the ball, she began running towards the square, instead of throwing it back to the bowler or wicketkeeper.
Sensing an opportunity, Kerr tried to sneak a second run. Kaur then delivered a bullet throw to 'keeper Richa Ghosh, who ran Kerr out comfortably.
However, the Kiwi No.3 was given a life when the umpires declared the ball dead, and the run-out nullified because the umpire at the bowlers end, thinking the play was over, had called over when Kaur began jogging towards the square.
Under the rules of the game, the ball is declared dead the moment the umpire calls over. India protested, but to no avail.
India captain Hermanpreet Kaur arguing with umpires after Amelia Kerr was given not out after a run out. Prime Video
Fortunately, the call mattered little. Kerr was caught in the covers off the next ball for 13 from 22.
Devine's strong finish followed a strong 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 fourth T20 half-century off 33 balls. New Zealand racked up 51 runs off the last five overs.
Rosemary Mair trapped 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 for 12. India would never recover.
Elsewhere, South Africa 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 had earlier grabbed a career-best 4-29 as the West Indies were restricted to 6-118.
The Windies used eight bowlers to try and 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.
Australia get their campaign underway against Sri Lanka on Saturday night.
