New Zealand proves too strong for India
The duo put on 60 for the opening wicket at better than a run a ball as New Zealand posted an imposing score of 5-155 from their allotted 20 overs.
Jess Kerr (2/20), Amelia Kerr (2/25) and Hayley Jensen (2/25) picked up two wickets apiece in a strong team effort with the ball as India fell well short of the required total as they staggered to 137/8 in reply.
Simran Bahadur (0/26) dropped Bates in the second over of the New Zealand innings and the Kiwi opener made her pay as she found the boundary with ease to help the hosts make a fast start.
Devine fell for a well-compiled 31 in the eighth over and, when Bates was bowled by Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/39) shortly after, the home side was reduced 80/2 in the 12th over.
Some late hitting from experienced allrounder Lea Tahuhu (27 off 14 balls) helped New Zealand to a big score, with Pooja Vastrakar's economical bowling of 1/16 from four overs the only Indian bowler that could stop the Kiwis from scoring at will.
New Zealand beat India by 18 runs in their one-off T20I. Lea Tahuhu's quick-fire 27 (14) earned her the Player of the Match 👏
— ICC (@ICC) February 9, 2022
A replay of the T20I is available on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v (in select regions) 👉 https://t.co/7qnsN1kLDW pic.twitter.com/FJpRlTg11r
India openers Yastika Bhatia (26) and Shafali Verma (13) made a strong start in reply to cruise to 41/0 in the seventh over, but the duo fell to Amelia Kerr in the space of just three balls to put the hosts firmly in control.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (12) and impressive middle-order batter Sabbhineni Meghana (37 from 30 balls) tried hard to keep the visitors in it, but the disciplined home side held their nerve to clinch the victory in style.
The two teams will turn their attention to a five-game ODI series that starts at the same ground on Saturday, ahead of next month's Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.