Opener Suzie Bates has led with the bat and their bowlers never allowed India to mount a meaningful run chase, as New Zealand overcame their rivals by 18 runs in a one-off T20 clash at Queenstown.
Losing the toss and sent into bat first, the White Ferns compiled 155/5 off their alotted 20 overs, built on a 60-run opening partnership by Bates and captain Sophie Devine, before fast-bowler Lea Tahuhu was promoted up the order for a rapid-fire 27 off 14 balls in the middle order.
The Indian chase faltered, when Melie Kerr had both openers Yastika Bhati and Safali Verma out within two balls of the seventh over, and the tourists lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually batting out their overs for 137/8.
Kerr, sister Jess and all-rounder Hayley Jensen all took a pair of wickets each, but Tahuhu earned Player of the Match honours for her contributions with bat and ball.
"Not surprising for me, but maybe surprising for everyone else," Tahuhu explained her elevation up the order. "It was something we talked about and did during the Super Smash, so we thought we'd give it a go here as well.
"It was a good way to kick off a really big couple of months for us and getting a win was really important for this group."
The result is a much-needed morale boost for the NZ women, who have struggled for wins and squad continuity over the past couple of years, and need to build confidence before they host the 50-over Cricket World Cup next month.
"It's awesome to lift a Cup," reflected Devine. "It's been a while since we won a series and I thought the girls played brilliant today - that's the blueprint for how we want to play T20 cricket.
"Now it's about changing focus, but for me, nothing much changes - it just gets lengthened out. We're really pleased with the performance today, but we know the real work starts now."
India (third) are ranked a spot ahead of the Kiwis and lost the T20 World Cup final to Australia at Melbourne last year, but were probably short of form, after serving their COVID-19 quarantine. They will be better for this outing, when the two sides begin their five-match one-day series at the same venue on Saturday.
NZ 155/5 (Bates 36, Devine 31, Tahuhu 27, Vastrakar 2/16, Deepti 2/26)
India 137/8 (Meghana 37, Yastika 26, J Kerr 2/20, M Kerr 2/25, Jensen 2/25)
New Zealand win by 18 runs
