Mumbai: West Indies broke the semi-final barrier in the Women’s World T20 after beating New Zealand by six runs at the Wankhede stadium here on Thursday. They had lost thrice in the semis before. The Caribbean girls will now meet Australia in the final at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
New Zealand women who had entered unbeaten into the knock-outs faced the similar fate like their men. Britney Cooper's half century helped West Indies post 143/6 on the board. Cooper made 61 in 48 balls and she was involved in 60-run partnership with skipper Stafanie Taylor 25 (26b, 2x4) for the second wicket to set up a challenging total to their opponents.
New Zealand got starts from Sophie Divine 22 (14b, 4x4), Sara McGlashan 38 (30b, 2x4) and Amy Satterthwaite 24 (29b, 1x4) but none of them could carry on to complete the tricky chase.
Taylor (3/26) took three wickets towards the end including to McGlashan and Satterthwaite in consecutive balls to kill the chase. They managed 137/8 in the end. Taylor was sedate in her approach allowing her opening partner Hayley Mathews 16 (14b), to cut loose with two fours of Lea Tahuhu. But Mathews was trapped in front by left arm spinner Morna Nielsen (1/14) to end the partnership of 18 runs.
Cooper came in and played her shots. Taylor holed out to Katie Perkins at mid on but Cooper found another good partner in Deandra Dottin 20 (17b, 2x4) to accelerate scoring.
Kiwis were cruising in power-plays (42/1) when all-rounder Deandra Dottin came up with a direct hit to catch Sophie Divine just short of crease it changed the course of the game.
“Dottin always gets us those run outs. She is quick in the field, when she gets those run outs it brings whole team back in it,” said WI skipper Taylor.
