Revenge, the cricketers do not keep the word very much in the field game. But statistics back that up. The world saw another revenge game in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final between West Indies and New Zealand. New Zealand reached the final after defeating West Indies by 8 runs.
New Zealand took sweet revenge for their exit from the semi-finals of the world stage eight years ago by losing to the Caribbean girls. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, the Kiwis lost to the West Indies by 6 runs.
Batting first at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Friday (October 18), New Zealand scored 128 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs. West Indies could not score more than 120 runs after losing 8 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs.
West Indies were put under pressure from the start when they came down to bat with a target of 129 runs. Losing 2 wickets in the powerplay, they could score only 25 runs. At the end of 10 overs, their run was 48 runs for 3 wickets.
The Caribbean needed 80 runs in the next 10 overs. Deandra Dottin was confident. His innings of 33 runs off 22 balls gave the team a dream win. They needed 34 runs in the last 4 overs. But the last light of hope is extinguished as soon as Dottin is out.
They needed 15 runs in the last over. Zayda James sealed the game with a 4 off the first ball of Suzy Bates’ over. Dot the next ball. Bates confirmed New Zealand’s final by bowling James in the third ball of the over.
Bates, who was brilliant in the last over with the ball, also contributed well in the batting earlier. He scored 26 runs off 28 balls with 1 four. Georgia Plimer got the team off to a good start with a 48-run partnership with him. He scored 33 runs off 31 balls.
After that, New Zealand could not make any such pair. Sophie Devine reached double figures. Brook Halliday played a cameo innings of 18 runs off 2 fours and 9 balls. Isabel Gage remained unbeaten on 20 runs from 14 balls.
New Zealand’s opponent is South Africa on Sunday (October 20) in the title fight. As Australia and West Indies have been eliminated in the semis, the Women’s T20 World Cup is going to get a new champion this time.
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