Highlights:
- New Zealand secures a spectacular 102-run victory over Sri Lanka to maintain their chances of reaching the semi-finals of Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
- Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr lead New Zealand to a comfortable 162/3 victory at Boland Park in Paarl.
- New Zealand moves to second in Group 1, guaranteeing a semi-finals spot if Bangladesh beats South Africa in the final group match.
In order to maintain their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka with a commanding 102-run victory.
At Boland Park in Paarl, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr led New Zealand to a comfortable 162/3 victory. In response, Sri Lanka, who needed one more victory to go to the semi-finals, was knocked out for just 60.
With the win, New Zealand overtook Sri Lanka for second position in Group 1 and is now guaranteed to advance provided Bangladesh defeats the host South Africa in the final group match.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand got off to a decent start as Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Suzie Bates put together 46 runs before Achini Kulasuriya dismissed Bezuidenhout for 32. This brought Amelia Kerr to the crease, promoted up the order to join Bates in the middle.
Kerr and Bates built a solid 110-run partnership for the second wicket, taking their team past the 150-run mark. Both batters completed their half-centuries along the way. Sri Lanka managed to dismiss them in the final over of the innings.
Inoka Ranaweera dismissed Bates for 56 even though the damage had already been done before assisting her team in running out Kerr for 66.
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In response, Sri Lanka struggled as they lost three wickets in the powerplay overs. The lone fighter, Chamari Athapaththu, captain of Sri Lanka, too perished because he was unable to get help from the other end as the New Zealand bowlers continued to make progress.
Lea Tahuhu and Amelia Kerr each took four wickets, and Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr, Eden Carson, and Fran Jonas each claimed one, leading to Sri Lanka’s eventual collapse for 60.