WT20I WC : New Zealand & South Africa brightens their SF hopes with identical wins

 


Opener Georgia Plimmer's half-century and Amelia Kerr's all-round performance led New Zealand to an 8-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the Group A match of the Women's T20 World Cup cricket tournament. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka managed to score only 115 runs for five wickets. In response, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target, scoring 118 for two wickets in 17.3 overs. This win, coming after their victory over India, intensifies the competition between India and New Zealand for a spot in the semifinals from Group A.


Australia sits at the top with six points and a net run rate of 2.78, and its place at the top of the group seems almost certain. India will play its final league match on Sunday against Australia, while New Zealand will face Pakistan on Monday. Both India and New Zealand have four points each, with India's net run rate at 0.576 and New Zealand's at 0.282. For India to advance, they need to defeat Australia and hope that Pakistan beats New Zealand.


Sri Lanka, the Asia Cup champions, struggled again and faced their fourth consecutive loss. New Zealand, chasing a modest target, showed no urgency. Opener Plimmer played a steady hand, scoring 53 runs off 44 balls, including four boundaries. After her dismissal, captain Sophie Devine (13*), and Kerr (34* off 31 balls) guided the team to a comfortable victory, with Devine sealing the win with a six.


Earlier, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 35 off 41 balls, including five fours. For New Zealand, spinner Kerr impressed with figures of 2 for 13 in her four overs, while Leigh Kasperek took 2 for 27. Off-spinner Eden Carson chipped in with 1 for 17. Sri Lanka lost opener Vishmi Gunaratne (8 off 15 balls) in the fourth over.


Chamari and Harshitha Samarawickrama (18 off 29 balls) then held on for 10 overs without losing a wicket, but their slow scoring put the team under pressure. The pair added 48 runs off 60 balls for the second wicket, but both fell within two runs of each other. Late contributions from Kavisha Dilhari (10), Nilakshi de Silva (14*), and Ama Kanchana (10*) helped Sri Lanka reach triple digits. New Zealand gave away 15 extras, helping Sri Lanka post a somewhat respectable total.


Meanwhile in the other match of the evening  South Africa strengthened their semi final  hopes with a well crafted  win over Bangladesh . The Asian team batted first at Dubai but put up another typically timid performance scoring only  105/3 in 20 overs . After their openers went cheaply , Shobana Mostery (38) and Nigar Sultana (32*) took the team to 106/3 . However the Proteas made light work of the target . Wolvardt (7) went cheaply but Tazmin Brits played well for her 42 , Bosch (25) played a cameo . Later Kapp (13*) & Tryon (14*) ensured safe reaching of the target with a 7 wicket win with 16 balls left



Opener Georgia Plimmer's half-century and Amelia Kerr's all-round performance led New Zealand to an 8-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the Group A match of the Women's T20 World Cup cricket tournament. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka managed to score only 115 runs for five wickets. In response, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target, scoring 118 for two wickets in 17.3 overs. This win, coming after their victory over India, intensifies the competition between India and New Zealand for a spot in the semifinals from Group A.


Australia sits at the top with six points and a net run rate of 2.78, and its place at the top of the group seems almost certain. India will play its final league match on Sunday against Australia, while New Zealand will face Pakistan on Monday. Both India and New Zealand have four points each, with India's net run rate at 0.576 and New Zealand's at 0.282. For India to advance, they need to defeat Australia and hope that Pakistan beats New Zealand.


Sri Lanka, the Asia Cup champions, struggled again and faced their fourth consecutive loss. New Zealand, chasing a modest target, showed no urgency. Opener Plimmer played a steady hand, scoring 53 runs off 44 balls, including four boundaries. After her dismissal, captain Sophie Devine (13*), and Kerr (34* off 31 balls) guided the team to a comfortable victory, with Devine sealing the win with a six.


Earlier, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 35 off 41 balls, including five fours. For New Zealand, spinner Kerr impressed with figures of 2 for 13 in her four overs, while Leigh Kasperek took 2 for 27. Off-spinner Eden Carson chipped in with 1 for 17. Sri Lanka lost opener Vishmi Gunaratne (8 off 15 balls) in the fourth over.


Chamari and Harshitha Samarawickrama (18 off 29 balls) then held on for 10 overs without losing a wicket, but their slow scoring put the team under pressure. The pair added 48 runs off 60 balls for the second wicket, but both fell within two runs of each other. Late contributions from Kavisha Dilhari (10), Nilakshi de Silva (14*), and Ama Kanchana (10*) helped Sri Lanka reach triple digits. New Zealand gave away 15 extras, helping Sri Lanka post a somewhat respectable total.


Meanwhile in the other match of the evening  South Africa strengthened their semi final  hopes with a well crafted  win over Bangladesh . The Asian team batted first at Dubai but put up another typically timid performance scoring only  105/3 in 20 overs . After their openers went cheaply , Shobana Mostery (38) and Nigar Sultana (32*) took the team to 106/3 . However the Proteas made light work of the target . Wolvardt (7) went cheaply but Tazmin Brits played well for her 42 , Bosch (25) played a cameo . Later Kapp (13*) & Tryon (14*) ensured safe reaching of the target with a 7 wicket win with 16 balls left

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