A stunning all-round performance from Amelia Kerr has led the White Ferns to their second victory of the Women's Cricket World Cup, defeating India by 62 runs at Hamilton's Seddon Park.
Kerr, 21, stood out in New Zealand's efforts with bat and ball, scoring a half-century before taking 3/56 with the ball. Kerr's display was the fourth time she's taken three or more wickets and scored 50 or more in the same match - with only West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor having done so more times with seven.
Batting first, Kerr (50) and player of the match Amy Satterthwaite (75) were the top scorers on the White Ferns' scorecard, both notching vital half-centuries as part of New Zealand's 260/9 from 50 overs.
And Kerr was in the thick of it again by taking three wickets, including top scorer Harmanpreet Kaur (70), to help bowl India out for 198 in the 47th over.
Lea Tahuhu finished as the best on display with the ball, taking a staggering 3/17 from her ten-over spell - conceding less than two runs an over, an achievement in test cricket, never mind a one-day international.
The win moves New Zealand to second on the World Cup standings, behind only Australia on net run rate. That trans-Tasman rivalry will be on show in the White Ferns' next encounter, facing Australia on Sunday at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
Sent in after losing the toss, the White Ferns lost both openers inside the first 11 overs, as Suzie Bates (5) was run out for the second time in three matches, before captain Sophie Devine (35) was caught behind off the bowling of Pooja Vastrakar.
Kerr and Satterthwaite helped get the White Ferns' innings back on track, adding 67 runs together for the fourth wicket.
Kerr passed her half-century from 63 balls with five boundaries, while Satterthwaite needed just 60 balls with six boundaries.
But once both half-centurions were dismissed, New Zealand failed to capitalise on the platform they had set.
From 214/4 at the start of the 41st over, NZ lost 46/5 in the closing stages of their innings, eventually reaching 260/9 from their completed innings. Aside from Kerr and Satterthwaite, only Katey Martin (41) added a score of note.
Vastrakar stood tall as the best of India's bowlers, taking 4/34 and ruining any chance of a big finish for the White Ferns.
But tasked with chasing a target of more than five runs an over, India's cautious approach cost them.
Starting slowly, India lost opener Smriti Mandhana with just 10 runs on the board, out for six when she hit Jess Kerr straight to Bates at cover.
Tahuhu then struck in the 10th over to remove Deepti Sharma, after a successful overturned lbw decision from the White Ferns. Tahuhu had a second when Yastika Bhatia was caught by Frances Mackay for 28 from 59 balls, leaving India struggling at 50/3.
Captain Mithali Raj ate up 56 balls for her 31 runs before falling to Amelia Kerr, stumped in the 30th over, before wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh departed for a first-ball duck - bowled by a wrong-un to leave Kerr on a hat-trick.
At the other end, Kaur batted on as partners fell around her, and brought up a fluent half-century from 54 balls, before taking the attack to the White Ferns.
A Jess Kerr over was hit for 20 runs, before Kaur finally departed - along with India's hopes - giving Amelia Kerr her third wicket.
Hayley Jensen (2/30) took the final two wickets in successive balls to clean up India's tail, bowling Jhulan Goswami for 20, and having Rajeshwari Gayakwad out caught behind by Katey Martin to see the end of the match.
The win is the White Ferns' second in a row, defeating Bangladesh and India in succession after dropping their opening match against the West Indies.
The top four sides after pool play will qualify for the semi-finals, and with England and Pakistan having lost both of their two opening fixtures, the White Ferns have done their chances no harm with the size of Thursday's victory.
New Zealand 260/9 (Satterthwaite 75, A. Kerr 50; Vastrakar 4/34)
India 198 (Kaur 71; Tahuhu 3/17, A.Kerr 3/56)
