New Zealand eased previous winless Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday to maintain alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Girls’s T20 World Cup.
Set a goal of 115, New Zealand cruised to victory.
Georgia Plimmer, a 20-year-old opener, hit 53 earlier than captain Sophie Devine smashed the one six of the match to take her crew to 118 for 2 with 15 balls left.
New Zealand stayed third in Group A behind Australia, who’ve received all their video games, and India, who’ve a superior run price regardless of New Zealand’s late surge on Saturday.
Devine mentioned the White Ferns didn’t talk about run price earlier than beginning their chase.
“We all know that successful the sport was an important factor,” she mentioned.
Australia and India meet of their final group sport on Sunday.
New Zealand face Pakistan on Monday.
“We see how outcomes play out tomorrow and we’ve our remaining sport towards Pakistan and by that time we’ll know precisely the place we stand an what´s going to be required,” mentioned Devine.
Sri Lanka, who got here into the match as Asian champions however then misplaced their first three video games, opted to bat.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu opened and made the highest rating of 35 as her crew handed 100 for the primary time within the match, reaching 115 for 5 wickets.
Neither captain was joyful after the Sri Lankan innings.
“We improved somewhat bit at the moment however we wanted one other 20-25 runs,” mentioned Athapaththu.
“I do not suppose we have bowled in addition to we all know we are able to,” mentioned Devine.
New Zealand began rigorously. Opener Suzie Bates hit one 4 in her 17.
Regardless of scoring at nearly a run a ball, Plimmer hit solely 4 fours and needed to run for many of her 53 on a day when temperatures hit 39°C.
When she lastly went for energy and took to the air, she was caught within the deep mid-wicket by Nilakshi de Silva off the bowling of Athapaththu.
Amelia Kerr, who hit 34 to observe her two wickets, and Devine, who made 13, sped New Zealand to victory with a late flurry of boundaries.
“Georgia Plimmer excellent at the moment,” mentioned Devine. “Tremendous pleased with her. The teen coming on the market and sticking to her strengths and taking the sport on is strictly what we´ve requested for.”
