Australia have handed over the title of women's World Twenty20 favourites in a one-sided loss to New Zealand.
The White Ferns were widely tipped to be the biggest roadblock to Australia's hopes of a fourth straight T20 title, having won a recent trans-Tasman T20 series.
Those predictions look to be on the money after they cruised to a six-wicket win with 22 balls remaining in Nagpur.
Australia scrapped their way to 8-103, only for NZ to reel in the target with remarkable ease.
Allrounder Ellyse Perry, who scored 42 in a much-needed recovery after the Southern Stars collapsed to 4-4, conceded NZ were the team to beat at the tournament.
"In a World Cup anyone is in with a shot but they're certainly in form and leading the way," Perry said.
"The way they played today and the way they took it to us in their batting innings ... they've got a lot of weapons.
"They seem to be playing some consistently really good cricket.
"They're one of the favourites for the tournament ... whatever team plays them they're going to be a big challenge."
Australia are still well placed to finish second in their pool and progress to the semi-finals but the pressure will be on when they face Sri Lanka on Thursday in Delhi.
Perry cast the World T20 wake-up call in a positive light.
"I don't think it's deflating at all. Obviously it gives us something to work on," the dual international said.
"Everyone will be really keen to get out there and just work on the things that didn't quite come off for us."
Australia captain Meg Lanning, who was run out for a duck, noted her team was "outplayed".
"It is obviously disappointing but we never quite got into the game," Lanning said.
"Once you get on the back foot, it is very difficult to recover."
Tweakers Leigh Kasperek and Morna Nielsen bowled the opening eight overs of the match and it proved a masterstroke from White Ferns skipper Suzie Bates.
Nielsen, who fired for the Melbourne Stars in the inaugural women's Big Bash League season, recorded stunning figures of 0-4.
It was the most economical four-over spell by a NZ bowler in a women's T20.
Kasperek benefited from the dot-ball pressure, dismissing openers Alyssa Healy, Elyse Villani and first drop Erin Osborne.
Perry steadied with the help of Alex Blackwell, Jess Jonassen and Beth Mooney.
"NZ dominated those first six overs of the powerplay with the bat as they did with the ball," Perry said.
"We certainly made it look very difficult to bat."
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