In Dubai, destiny had a different card to play. The Women’s T20 World Cup has two new teams in the final this time, and a new champion will be chosen from the semifinals. On Friday, October 18, New Zealand made it to the final for the first time in 14 years when they defeated the West Indies by 8 runs, while South Africa won by defeating Australia, the six-time champion.
The last two times New Zealand got to the Women’s T20 World Cup final were in 2009 and 2010. In both cases, the Kiwi team won second. South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaard, will now play Sophie Devine and company in the championship match. 2016 sees New Zealand play the West Indies in the semifinals. Then things were the other way around. The West Indies defeated New Zealand by six runs, breaking their own hearts. The Kiwi team has now exacted their revenge.
The chances were in New Zealand’s favour.
In talking about the second semi-final game, everything was going well for New Zealand. After winning the toss, the first captain chose to bat. New Zealand lost eight wickets while scoring 128 runs on the slow Sharjah pitch. After looking desperate with Deandra Dottin’s devastating bowling, the New Zealand batsmen scored a total that was worth fighting for.
For the first wicket, Suzy Bates and Georgia scored 48 runs as one. Georgia scored the most runs (33) while Bates was out after 26 runs. After this, wickets started to fall sporadically. Isabella Gauge ended up scoring an undefeated twenty runs, which gave the team a chance to win. In four overs, Deandra Dottin took four wickets for 22 runs.
New Zealand bowled with control.
In the eyes of the 2016 champion West Indies, this score might not look like much, but New Zealand’s bowlers took the match out of their hands. The West Indies dealt the first blow at 16 runs while following their goal. After this, New Zealand’s bowlers applied pressure to the West Indies using disciplined bowling. After the wicket of captain Hayley Matthews (15), the pressure mounted.
Deandra (33), who had bowled well, showed her batsmanship as well. She was the only batsman who battled the New Zealand bowlers bravely. But Amelia Kerr’s wicket knocked out the biggest thorn in New Zealand’s side. Eden Carson took three wickets and Kerr took two for New Zealand, which won by eight runs.