New Zealand secured an important victory over Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the Women’s T20 World Cup group stage, keeping their semi-final hopes alive. With this win, both India and New Zealand now have 4 points each from three matches, increasing the tension in Group A. The Kiwi team’s win puts India in a tight spot, needing a must-win result in their final group match against Australia.
Australia, the defending champions, have already qualified for the semi-finals, but the second spot from this group is still open, making the upcoming matches crucial for both India and New Zealand.
New Zealand Thrashes Sri Lanka by 8 Wickets
In the match held in Sharjah on 12th October, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. However, their batters struggled to set a competitive target, finishing with only 115/5 in 20 overs. Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was the top scorer with 35 runs from 41 balls, but the slow pace of her innings put additional pressure on the team.
New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Amelia Kerr (2/13) and Leigh Kasperek (2/27), made sure Sri Lanka couldn’t accelerate their scoring. Opener Vishmi Gunaratne could only score 8 off 15 balls, while other key players like Harshitha Samarawickrama added 18 runs in 29 balls.
The Sri Lankan team couldn’t find momentum despite a partnership of 48 runs for the second wicket. A few late contributions took them past 100, but New Zealand’s bowlers kept control throughout the innings.
Georgia Plimmer Leads New Zealand to Victory
Chasing 116, New Zealand also had a slow start, failing to score a boundary in the first four overs. However, openers Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates stayed calm and built a solid partnership of 49 runs. Plimmer was the star of the innings, scoring 53 off 44 balls, while Amelia Kerr remained unbeaten on 34 as New Zealand chased the target with 15 balls to spare, finishing at 118/2 in 17.3 overs.
With this win, New Zealand now has 4 points from three matches, the same as India, but the latter has a better net run rate. This leaves both teams in a tight race for the semi-finals.
India’s Next Match Against Australia Becomes Crucial
India now faces a difficult challenge, as they must defeat Australia in their final group match to secure a place in the semi-finals. A win will take India to 6 points, putting them level with Australia at the top of the table. If New Zealand also wins their last match against Pakistan, net run rate will determine which team advances.
If India loses to Australia and New Zealand beats Pakistan, India’s chances will depend on net run rate, making their loss margin crucial. However, if both India and New Zealand lose their remaining matches, Australia and India will move forward unless Pakistan pulls off a big win over New Zealand.
Sri Lanka’s Poor Campaign Ends
Sri Lanka’s defeat against New Zealand means they end their T20 World Cup campaign with four consecutive losses, finishing last in their group. Despite high hopes after winning the Asian championship, Sri Lanka couldn’t find form in the tournament and will now head home empty-handed.
India’s final match against Australia will be a must-watch, as their journey to the semi-finals depends on this crucial encounter.
