New Zealand booked their place in the T20 World Cup final after surviving a late charge from West Indies to hold for a dramatic eight-run victory in Sharjah.
Georgia Plimmer (33) and Suzie Bates (26) put on a 48-run opening stand for New Zealand, before Deandra Dottin (4-22) and Afy Fletcher (2-23) led the West Indies fightback and restricted them to 128-9.
Eden Carson took three quick wickets in reply to leave the West Indies reeling at 41-3, starting with the key scalp of Qiana Joseph (12), with Hayley Matthews (15) also falling to Lea Tahuhu as New Zealand grabbed control of the contest.
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New Zealand’s Eden Carson strikes after being hit for two boundaries by Qiana Joseph in the Women’s T20 World Cup
Dottin survived being dropped on multiple occasions to fire three sixes in an over and keep the West Indies alive, although Melie Kerr (2-14) dismissed her for 33 to reduce hopes of them reaching their first Women’s T20 World Cup final since the 2016 success.
The West Indies required 15 from the final over but only managed six to leave them short on 120-8, as New Zealand set up a showdown with South Africa – who defeated Australia in the other semi-final – in Sunday’s final in Dubai.
More to follow…
What’s next?
Who will win the Women’s T20 World Cup? New Zealand face South Africa in the final this Sunday in Dubai, meaning there will be a first-time champion. Build-up starts at 2.30pm on Sky Sports Cricket ahead of the game beginning at 3pm.