12:39 pm:

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur: “It feels great when your team performs like this. We got a good start in the first ten overs but didn’t carry the momentum. We bowled well in patches but weren’t up to the mark at times and have to focus on those areas. She [Shafali Verma] is giving us good starts and I hope she continues doing that as quick runs at the top are really important.”

12:36 pm:

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine: “I thought we did a fantastic. With how Shafali came out at the top, we did a good job of restricting them. The spinners came in and tied their batsmen down. Kerr did a brilliant job of getting us that close. We can take a lot of positives from this game.”

12:31 pm:

Player of the match Shafali Verma: “Happy with my performance. Wanted to give a good start in the powerplay. I waited for the loose balls and it paid off today. I want to thank my father, I’m here because of him. I would like to thank my coaches and the boys at my academy who helped me train and improve my batting.”

12:26 pm: India are officially through to the semi-finals!

Harmanpreet Kaur have won all their three games – against Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand – and have become the first team to qualify for the knockout stage.

12:24 pm: A thrilling final over in Melbourne! NZ needed 5 runs to win off the last ball and a Super Over was very much on the cards. But Shikha Pandey managed to get the wide yorker right and hand India the win.

A phenomenal effort by Amelia Kerr, though, she remains not out on 34 off 19 after hitting a flurry of fours in the last few overs. She is in tears now but should be proud of the performance she put in today.

INDIA WIN BY 4 RUNS!

After 19 overs, New Zealand are 118/5 (Amelia Kerr 29, Hayley Jensen 5)

MASSIVE over for NZ! Poonam Yadav concedes 18 runs in her final over as Amelia Kerr picks up for boundaries in the over. NZ need 16 off 6. This match is still hanging in the balance.

After 18 overs, New Zealand are 100/5 (Amelia Kerr 11, Hayley Jensen 5)

Hayley Jensen survives a run-out as Deepti Sharma fails to hit the stumps from three yards away. Six runs come from the off-spinner’s over. NZ need 34 off 12.

After 17 overs, New Zealand are 94/5 (Amelia Kerr 9, Hayley Jensen 1)

A wicket and eight runs from that Radha Yadav over. NZ need 40 off 18.

After 16.3 overs, New Zealand are 90/5 (Amelia Kerr 6)

WICKET! India get the important wicket of Katey Martin. The right–hander hits it straight to Jemimah Rodrigues at deep mid-wicket and Radha Yadav gets her first wicket. Hayley Jensen is the new batter for NZ.

Martin out for 25 off 28 (c Rodrigues b Radha)

After 16 overs, New Zealand are 86/4 (Katey Martin 21, Amelia Kerr 6)

Deepti Sharma returns to the attack and drops it short, Amelia Kerr rocks back and cuts it away for her first boundary. Seven runs from the over, NZ need 48 off 24.

After 15 overs, New Zealand are 79/4 (Katey Martin 19, Amelia Kerr 1)

Top over by Rajeshwari Gayakwad, a wicket and just two runs from it. NZ need 55 off 30.

After 14.2 overs, New Zealand are 77/4 (Katey Martin 18)

WICKET! India break the partnership! Maddy Green steps out to Rajeshwari Gayakwad and gets a faint edge to ‘keeper Taniya Bhatia. Amelia Kerr is the new batter.

Green out for 24 off 23 (c Bhatia b Gayakwad)

After 14 overs, New Zealand are 77/3 (Maddy Green 24, Katey Martin 18)

Shikha Pandey returns to the attack and bowls a decent over, six runs from it. NZ’s No 4 and 5 have added 43 off 35 so far.

After 13 overs, New Zealand are 71/3 (Maddy Green 22, Katey Martin 14)

Shot! Poonam Yadav tosses it up and Katey Martin sweeps it hard over square-leg for four. NZ need 63 off 42. The required rate has come down in the last few overs.

After 12 overs, New Zealand are 65/3 (Maddy Green 21, Katey Martin 9)

SIX! First maximum of the NZ innings and it comes from Maddy Green’s bat. The right-hander steps out to left-arm spinner Radha Yadhav and whacks it over the mid-wicket fence. That came out of the screws. Ten runs from that over.

After 11 overs, New Zealand are 55/3 (Maddy Green 13, Katey Martin 8)

Good over for NZ, they get a bit of a move on. Maddy Green and Katey Martin pick up a boundary each off Rajeshwari Gayakwad. NZ need 79 off 54.

After 10 overs, New Zealand are 46/3 (Maddy Green 9, Katey Martin 3)

A welcome boundary for NZ. Radha Yadav drops it short and Maddy Green pulls it away with ease for four. India were 75/2 at the halfway stage of their innings.

After 9 overs, New Zealand are 39/3 (Maddy Green 4, Katey Martin 2)

Another fine over by Poonam Yadav, a wicket and just five runs from it. The leg-spinner has taken eight wickets in the tournament so far. Katey Martin is the new batter for NZ.

After 8.1 overs, New Zealand are 34/3 (Maddy Green 1)

WICKET! Big, big wicket for India! Sophie Devine is gone! The New Zealand skipper mis-times a full-toss off Poonam Yadav and Radha Yadav gets a simple catch at point. Devine had scored half-centuries in her last six matches. India are on top!

Devine out for 14 off 21 (c Radha b Poonam)

After 8 overs, New Zealand are 34/2 (Sophie Devine 14, Maddy Green 1)

Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, making a comeback to the team, comes on to have a bowl and concedes just a single in her first over. The runs have dried up for NZ, the required rate is climbing.

After 7 overs, New Zealand are 33/2 (Sophie Devine 13, Maddy Green 1)

India’s trump card Poonam Yadav joins the attack and delivers a fine over first up, just the three runs from it. Maddy Green survives a close stumping call after some quick glovework by Taniya Bhatia. India are applying the choke nicely.

After 5.4 overs, New Zealand are 30/2 (Sophie Devine 11)

WICKET! Massive breakthrough for India as Suzie Bates is gone! Poor shot selection from the right-hander as she attempts a scoop off Deepti Sharma and ends up hitting it onto the stumps. India will be happy with their performance in the powerplay. Maddy Green is the new batter.

Bates out for 6 off 13 (b Deepti)

After 5 overs, New Zealand are 28/1 (Sophie Devine 10, Suzie Bates 5)

Top shot from Devine! The right-hander steps out to Gayakwad and lifts it straight back for four. Six runs come from that over.

After 4 overs, New Zealand are 22/1 (Sophie Devine 5, Suzie Bates 4)

Sophie Devine survives! Right-arm pacer Shikha Pandey wraps the New Zealand skipper on the pads, India opt for DRS but the replay shows the ball going down leg. India lose their review early in the innings. Four runs come from that over.

After 3 overs, New Zealand are 18/1 (Sophie Devine 5, Suzie Bates 1)

Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad joins the attack and bowls five good balls first up, before slipping one down leg and conceding four runs to the fine-leg fence.

After 1.4 overs, New Zealand are 13/1 (Sophie Devine 1)

WICKET! India get the breakthrough and Rachel Priest has to walk back. The right-hander gets a top-edge and Radha Yadav takes a good catch at mid-wicket. NZ have the top two batters in T20I cricket at the crease now in Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates.

Priest out for 12 off 9 (c Radha b Pandey)

After 1 over, New Zealand are 12/0 (Rachel Priest 12, Sophie Devine 0)

First boundary for NZ! Off-spinner Deepti Sharma drops it short and Priest cuts it with ease for four. The right-hander picks up another four with a sweep over square-leg. Big over for the White Ferns to start the chase.

11:05 am: We’re ready for the chase at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Rachel Priest and skipper Sophie Devine are opening the batting for New Zealand, Deepti Sharma has the new ball in hand for India. Here we go!

10:53 am: India were 68/1 in the first 9 overs and 55/7 in the last 11. The White Ferns fought back well but the Indian batters have themselves to blame for some poor shot-selection. The big positive for India is Shafali Verma’s form, whose 46 off 34 might just prove to be the difference.

INDIA FINISH AT 133/8 IN THEIR 20 OVERS

Radha Yadav manages to hit a six off Hayley Jensen in the last over to take India past 130. Twelve runs come off the last over.

After 19 overs, India are 121/7 (Shikha Pandey 9, Radha Yadav 4)

Better over for India, seven runs from it. Final six balls coming up, India would want Shikha Pandey to take most of the strike. Hayley Jensen to bowl the last over.

After 18 overs, India are 114/7 (Shikha Pandey 5, Radha Yadav 1)

Top over by New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, a wicket and just three runs from it. Radha Yadav is the new batter for India.

After 17.1 overs, India are 111/7 (Shikha Pandey 3)

WICKET! This is very poor batting from the Indians. Another aerial shot and another catch for New Zealand. Deepti Sharma attempts a slog off Sophie Devine but finds Hayley Jensen at deep mid-wicket. India would want to get past 130.

Deepti out for 8 off 11 (c Jensen b Devine)

After 17 overs, India are 111/6 (Deepti Sharma 8, Shikha Pandey 3)

Another good over for New Zealand, this time by Anna Petersen. Just six runs from it. Skipper Sophie Devine has rotated her bowlers nicely today.

After 15.3 overs, India are 104/6 (Deepti Sharma 4)

WICKET! And another one bites the dust, this time it’s Veda Krishnamurthy. The right-hander attempts a sweep and is struck in front, the umpire says not out but NZ take a review and get the three reds. India have now lost five wickets for 36 runs. This has been a brilliant fightback by the White Ferns. Shikha Pandey is the new batter.

Veda out for 6 off 5 (lbw Kerr)

After 15 overs, India are 100/5 (Deepti Sharma 4, Veda Krishnamurthy 2)

Dropped! New Zealand drop their third catch of the day as Deepti Sharma gets a reprieve. The Indian batters are continuing to hit in the air, could get into further trouble. Five runs from that Leigh Kasperek over.

After 13.5 overs, India are 95/5 (Deepti Sharma 1)

WICKET! The Indian innings is falling apart. Another poor shot, this time by Shafali Verma. She steps out and attempts a wild aerial shot but the ball goes straight to long-off. Poor cricket from the youngster, she should have been more aware of the match situation. India have lost three wickets for 15 runs. Veda Krishnamurthy is the new batter.

Verma out for 46 off 34 (c Jensen b Kerr)

After 13 overs, India are 93/4 (Shafali Verma 45)

WICKET! Poor, poor batting from Harmanpreet Kaur. The India captain plays three dot balls before hitting it straight back to Leigh Kasperek. The right-hander’s poor form continues. New Zealand are fighting back nicely. As far as India are concerned, a lot depends on Shafali Verma now. The right-hander needs to bat till the end. Deepti Sharma is the new batter.

Kaur out for 1 off 5 (c&b Kasperek)

After 12 overs, India are 90/3 (Shafali Verma 44, Harmanpreet Kaur 0)

Four and six! Rosemary Mair gets a wicket in the over but Shafali Verma manages to get the runs with some solid strikes. The 16-year-old bats in one gear and one gear only.

After 11.1 overs, India are 80/3 (Shafali Verma 34)

WICKET! Rosemary Mair has her second as Jemimah Rodrigues departs. This is a massive wicket for New Zealand. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur walks out to bat for India.

Rodrigues out for 10 off 9 (c Kerr b Mair)

After 11 overs, India are 80/2 (Shafali Verma 34, Jemimah Rodrigues 10)

Off-spinner Leigh Kasperek joins the attack and delivers a good over for New Zealand, just five runs from it. Shafali Verma is looking tired, though, she is struggling to run between the wickets.

After 10 overs, India are 75/2 (Shafali Verma 32, Jemimah Rodrigues 7)

Jemimah Rodrigues is up and running! The right-hander drives her second delivery between mid-wicket and mid-on for four.

Dropped! Again! Shafali Verma gets another reprieve as a simple, simple catch at mid-wicket is dropped. This could come back to hurt New Zealand.

After 9.1 overs, India are 68/2 (Shafali Verma 32)

WICKET! Taniya Bhatia is gone! The right-hander backs away and cuts it hard but the ball goes straight to Amelia Kerr at point. Rosemary Mair gets her first wicket.

Bhatia out for 23 off 25 (c Kerr b Mair)

After 9 overs, India are 68/1 (Shafali Verma 32, Taniya Bhatia 23)

Smart cricket by Shafali Verma. Amelia Kerr drops it short and the right-hander cuts it between backward point and short-third for four. And that brings up the fifty-run partnership (41 balls) between Verma and Taniya Bhatia.

After 8 overs, India are 60/1 (Shafali Verma 26, Taniya Bhatia 21)

Dropped! Big reprieve for Shafali Verma as New Zealand’s Maddy Green drops her catch at long-on. It was a difficult chance but should have been taken. Good over from right-arm medium-pacer Hayley Jensen, six runs from it.

After 7 overs, India are 54/1 (Shafali Verma 25, Taniya Bhatia 16)

Off-spinner Amelia Kerr is introduced into the attack and Taniya Bhatia sweeps her nicely for four. The fifty is up for India. New Zealand would want to check the run-flow.

After 6 overs, India are 49/1 (Shafali Verma 25, Taniya Bhatia 11)

Hayley Jensen joins the attack and bowls a fine over, just three runs from it. And that’s the end of the powerplay. India will be pleased with the run-rate.

Fun fact: 85% of Shafali Verma’s runs in the tournament have come from boundaries.

After 5 overs, India are 46/1 (Shafali Verma 24, Taniya Bhatia 9)

BACK-TO-BACK SIXES! Another bowling change for New Zealand as off-spinner Anna Peterson joins the attack. Shafali Verma take full toll of her and smacks two maximums straight back. The 16-year-old is off to a flyer once again!

After 4 overs, India are 33/1 (Shafali Verma 12, Taniya Bhatia 8)

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine comes on to bowl and Shafali Verma pulls the last ball of the over for four. It was short and Verma clobbered it with ease.. The right-arm medium pacer concedes nine runs in her first over.

After 3 overs, India are 24/1 (Shafali Verma 7, Taniya Bhatia 5)

Taniya Bhatia gets her first boundary with a well-timed flick past square-leg for four. The outfield is lightening fast. But a successful over for Lea Tahuhu and New Zealand.

After 2.2 overs, India are 17/1 (Shafali Verma 6)

WICKET! Oh dear, India lose Smriti Mandhana! Lea Tahuhu pitches it right up and the left-hander chops it on. Big breakthrough for New Zealand. Interesting tactic from India, they have sent Taniya Bhatia instead of Jemimah Rodrigues at No 3.

Mandhana out for 11 off 8 (b Tahuhu)

After 2 overs, India are 15/0 (Shafali Verma 6, Smriti Mandhana 9)

Another four for Mandhana! Right-arm medium-pacer Rosemary Mair comes on to have a bowl and the left-hander lifts her first ball over mid-on for a boundary. Shafali Verma then gets her first boundary by slapping one over the in-field on the off side. Big over for India.

After 1 over, India are 5/0 (Shafali Verma 1, Smriti Mandhana 4)

First boundary of the contest and it goes to Smriti Mandhana! Lea Tahuhu pitches it on a length and slightly wide, the left-hander takes a stride out and drives it over covers for four. Five runs to India from the first over.

9:30 am: Right, we’re for live action. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma are opening the batting for India. Lea Tahuhu has the new ball in hand for New Zealand. This promises to be a tense contest. Here we go!

9:25 am: The players have taken the field and it’s time for the national anthems. We’re minutes away from the first ball at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.

9:21 am: Smriti Mandhana was full of praise for her young opening partner Shafali Verma ahead of today’s game. Read here.

9:12 am:

Pitch report by former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop: “It is very grassy surface. If you get in there, you can bowl some cross-seamers. There are a few cracks as well but I don’t believes they’re significant.”

9:10 am: Playing XIs

New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Rachel Priest (w), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Katey Martin, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Jensen, Anna Peterson, Leigh Kasperek, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair.

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Taniya Bhatia (w), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

9:06 am:

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur at the toss: “We wanted to bat only. We have two changes today – Smriti Mandhana and Radha Yadav come in for Arundhati Reddy and Richa Ghosh. We are doing well in patches, we need to do well in batting. We will try to give our best today. I did struggle in the last two games but will give my best in this game.”

9:04 am:

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine at the toss: “It’s a fresh wicket, we would like to make the most of the conditions. We have got to be on the money against India. It’s about sticking to your strengths and not getting carried away. Hoping to continue my form, but I’m aware that cricket can be a fickle game.”

9:02 am: TOSS UPDATE

Sophie Devine has won the toss and New Zealand will field first!

8:58 am: We’re minutes away from the toss at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. This promises to be a cracking contest between two quality sides. Stay tuned for live updates!

8:55 am: It was a Sophie Devine show all the way in New Zealand’s victory against Sri Lanka in their last match. The White Ferns skipper became the only player, male or female, to register more than five consecutive 50-plus scores in T20I cricket.

Read more about her performance here.

8:52 am: Shafali Verma and Veda Krishnamurthy played blistering knocks to help India win their previous game. The duo’s effort showed the value of big hitters in women’s T20 cricket.

Read more about their performance here.

8:49 am: India will hope to repeat the heroics that saw them stun the White Ferns in the opening match of the previous World T20 in 2018.

However, New Zealand have a better head-to-head record in recent years, having won the last three matches between the two sides. Exactly a year ago, they had beaten India 3-0 in a three-match T20 International home series.

8:43 am: India lead the five-team standings in what is the ‘Group of Death’, with three of the top four teams in the format. A win against New Zealand today will take the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side on the threshold of a knock-out stage spot, to be competed among top two teams from Group A and B.

8:38 am: After defeating Australia and Bangladesh in their first two matches, India will be keen to keep their winning streak alive and take another step towards the semi-finals.

Hello and welcome to live updates of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between India and New Zealand.

After defeating Australia and Bangladesh in their first two matches, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co have the opportunity to take a big step towards the semi-finals with a victory at the Junction Oval in Melbourne today.