New Zealand crush West Indies by 56 runs to enter ICC Women’s T20 WC final

GROS ISLET - Riding on Sara McGlashan’s superb 55 ball 84 run innings, New Zealand crushed West Indies by 56 runs to enter the final of the ICC Women’s World T20 Championship here.

The White Ferns’ would now clash with archrivals Australia, the side they’ve beaten six times in a row, in the final on Sunday (May 16) at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Batting first, New Zealand scored 180 for the loss of five wickets. The mainstay of the New Zealand innings was McGlashan’s exciting knock, which included six boundaries and two mammoth sixes.

McGlashan had two good partnerships with skipper Aimee Watkins (20) and Sophie Devine (27), which helped her steady the ship after a wobbly start.

New Zealand were 49 for two but a stand of 93 at nearly 11 an over between McGlashan and Devine took the game away from the home side.

In reply, West Indies never looked like they would overcome the highest total of the tournament and could only manage 124 runs.

Barring opener S.Taylor (40) none of the batswomen were able to stay on the wicket and followed each other to the pavilion at regular intervals.

Watkins also shone with the ball taking three wickets for 26 in her quota of four overs.

Speaking during the post match ceremony, an elated Watkins said she was delighted to have another chance at World Twenty20 glory so soon after last year’s disappointment.

“We’ve got to take each game as it comes. What we’ve done in the past doesn’t matter too much but we will take a lot of confidence into the game. We are lucky we’ve got two bites of the cherry, to have another crack at the Twenty20 World Cup. It’s not often you’ll have another one within 12 months of the last one,” Watkins said. (ANI)