New Zealand defeat West Indies in low-scoring thriller to reach final

New Zealand defeated West Indies by eight runs to reach the 2024 Womens T20 World Cup final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on FridayDespite Deandre Dottinrsquos fiery spell which left New Zealand struggling with the bat but the Sophie Devineled side fought back valiantly to secure a trip to the final in a lowscoring thriller on the backs of impressive bowling performances by Eden Carson and Amelia KerrBatting first Suzie Bates 26 and Georgia Plimmer 33 who scored the sides only six got New Zealand off to a decent start with a 48run opening stand which was broken by Karishma Ramharack as she cleaned the wicket of Bates Amelia Kerr failed to convert the start and gain the advantage as she was caught off Dottins delivery in the 12th overWest Indies gained control over the game five deliveries later when Plimmer was caught off Afy Fletchers deliveryBrooke Hallidays 18 attempts to get going in an innings in which she scored two boundaries were stopped dead in their tracks as the lefthanded batters wickets were castled by DottinAlso Read Womens cricket in Asia struggles to match Western standardsWest Indies went on to reduce the Kiwis to 985 three deliveries later as Fletcher got the important scalp of captain Sophie Devine 12 in the 15th over Dottin continued her impressive spell as she removed the wickets of Maddy Green 3 and Rosemary Mair 2 in the 17th overA quickfire innings of 20 not out by wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze took New Zealand past the 100run mark before the wickets of Lea Tahuhu 6 and Eden Carson 0 fell on the penultimate delivery of the match With A single on the last ball Gaze helped New Zealand post 1289Despite the low score New Zealand took the fight to the West Indies batters from the first ball and with wickets at regular intervals the side from the Caribbean never found their footingQiana Joseph 12 was the first to depart in the third over the game when her wicket was castled by CarsonThe righthanded bowler continued her onslaught and removed Shemaine Campbelle 3 to put the pressure on their opponents Carson then picked up her third scalp of the night with Stafanie Taylorrsquos wicketWith captain Hayley Matthews 15 and Aaliyah Alleynersquos 4 departure Dottin continued her star performance and scored a valiant 33 off 22 balls in an innings with three sixes and gave her side a fighting chanceAfy Fletcherrsquos 17 not out and Zaida Jamesrsquos 14 run contribution took the side to within 15 runs in the final overSuzie took on the pressure and bowled the ultimate over her first time bowling in a T20I game since March conceding only six runs off it to lead the side to the final due to be played against South Africa on SundayCarson was named the player of the match and gave an emotional post game interview in tearsldquoAs you can see Im really emotional but really proud of the girls When Deandra Dottin was pumping us the girls just believed and stuck it out and we got over the line We really had to defend another low total belowpar had to get early wickets against West Indies they are a dangerous side We saw how the West Indies bowled they bowled a bit more backofalength and it worked we bowled a bit full its alrightrdquo she saidBrief ScoresNew ZealandW 1289 26 28 33 31 Deandra Dottin 422 defeated West IndiesW 1208 Deandra Dottin 33 22 Eden Zarson 329 by eight runsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever