Snehasis Mukherjee in Dubai
New Zealand’s spinners rose to the occasion, stopping the West Indies from chasing down 129 runs. They won the second semi-final of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup by eight runs at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Eden Carson and Deandra Dottin were the standout performers but here are the top five talking points from the game:
New Zealand’s batters’ application in powerplay
After winning the toss, Sophie Devine chose to bat first. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer opened the batting and managed to stay unbeaten during the first six overs, scoring 32 runs. In contrast, the West Indies lost two wickets for 25 runs while chasing in the powerplay.
Over the remaining 14 overs, the White Ferns scored 96 runs, while the Windies managed 95 runs. In the end, the Windies lost the match by eight runs, which was nearly the same as the difference in the powerplay scores between the two teams.
Eden Carson’s dream form continues
Eden Carson has been one of New Zealand’s standout performers. Following her impressive three-wicket haul yesterday, she has taken eight wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 6.57. While defending a total of 129, quick wickets were crucial, and Carson capitalised on the slow conditions of the Sharjah wicket. She took all three of her wickets—Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle, and Stafanie Taylor—in her first three overs. Ultimately, Carson was named Player of the Match for her exceptional four-over spell of 3 for 29.
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Deandra Dottin’s all-round performance
The World Boss set the stage on fire with her slower balls and yorkers. New Zealand batters were left stunned as Deandra Dottin claimed four wickets for 22 runs in her four overs. During the chase, when Hayley Matthews was dismissed in the 11th over, Dottin was left to shoulder the responsibility alone. She began to unleash fireworks, hitting three sixes in a single over against Lea Tahuhu. However, Amelia Kerr’s spin ultimately trapped her, and Dottin was sent walking for 33 runs off 22 balls, with a strike rate of 150.00. Her all-round performance, unfortunately, went in vain.
West Indies top-order failure
Based on how the Windies batted against England in their last match, a target of 129 seemed achievable. Although the previous match was played in Dubai, this one took place in Sharjah, which is a tougher pitch to bat on, the top order featuring Matthews, Dottin, Taylor, and Campbelle raised expectations for a successful chase. However, they struggled significantly against the spinners, losing their way early in the innings. By the end of the first ten overs, they had lost three wickets and scored only 48 runs.
New Zealand’s spin trio
In Sharjah, it was clear that the team with the better-performing spinners would come out on top, and that is exactly what happened. New Zealand’s spin trio of Carson, Kerr, and Fran Jonas took a combined six wickets, while the West Indies spinners managed only three. The White Ferns bowled 12 overs of spin compared to the Windies’ eight. Amelia Kerr, following her two wickets yesterday, is now leading the tournament’s wicket-taker chart with 12 wickets in five innings.
Now, New Zealand will face South Africa in the final at the Dubai International Stadium, where a new champion will lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
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