New Zealand defeated the West Indies in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The White Ferns won the game by 8 runs thanks to an exceptional effort from the bowling group.
West Indies defeated New Zealand by 6 runs in the semi-final of the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup and now the White Ferns have their revenge in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final.
Eden Carson was awarded the Player of the Match for her excellent performance with the ball. Deandra Dottin’s valiant efforts with both bat and ball went in vain as the 2016 Women’s T20 Champions fell short by 8 runs in a thriller of a match. New Zealand will now be against South Africa in the final of the tournament in Dubai.
Spin to win for New Zealand
New Zealand won the toss and skipper Sophie Devine opted to bat first. They were off to a decent start with Georgia Plimmer (33 runs) and Suzie Bates (26 runs) having a 48-run partnership for the first wicket before Bates was bowled by Karishma Ramharack. Then New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals and managed only 128 runs with the bat.
Sophie Devine (12 runs) and Brooke Halliday (18 runs) had an important partnership of 27 runs for the fourth wicket. Isabella Gaze (20* runs) had a match-winning partnership of 23 runs with Lea Tahuhu. Deandra Dottin picked up 4 wickets and was the best bowler for her side. Afy Fletcher continued her good form picked up a couple of wickets. Karishma Ramharack and Aaliyah Alleyne picked up one wicket each.
Chasing 129 runs, West Indies had a poor start as they lost last game’s star, Qiana Joseph (12 runs) in the 3rd over and then Shemaine Campbell in the following over. Stafanie Taylor (13 runs) and Hayley Matthews (15 runs) then played a couple of good shots before Taylor was dismissed in the 9th over. Matthews got out a couple of overs later with only 51 runs on the board.
Deandra Dottin then scored three sixes off Lea Tahuhu in the 16th over which turned the game again towards the West Indies but she was dismissed in the very next over by Amelia Kerr which almost sealed the deal for the White Ferns. Zaida James (14 runs) then played a couple of good shots and kept some hope alive for her side but she got dismissed in the last over. It was the final nail in the coffin for the Windies as Suzie Bates held her nerves in the last over. Eden Carson picked up 3 wickets with Amelia Kerr picking up 2 wickets. Fran Jonas, Lea Tahuhu and Suzie Bates picked up one wicket each.
