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NZ-W vs SL-W Highlights: Kerr’s All-Round Show and Plimmer’s Fifty Guide White Ferns To Dominant Win

New Zealand Women defeated Sri Lanka Women by 8 wickets [Source: @ICC/x.com] New Zealand Women defeated Sri Lanka Women by 8 wickets [Source: @ICC/x.com]

New Zealand Women cruised to an 8-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in Match 15 of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Sharjah on Saturday. This commanding win has kept their semi-final hopes firmly alive.

Here’s the timeline of how NZ-W vs SL-W panned out in Sharjah-

NZ-W vs SL-W Highlights: Chamari Athapaththu Leads a Stuttering Start for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Women’s decision to bat first saw their openers, Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu, take cautious steps forward on a tricky pitch, trying to navigate New Zealand’s bowlers. The duo managed a 26-run partnership before Eden Carson knocked over Gunaratne in the fourth over, sending the young batter back for just 8 off 15 balls.

Chamari Athapaththu, determined to steady the ship, found a reliable ally in Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama. Together, they added a gritty 48 runs for the second wicket. Athapaththu’s 35 off 41 balls showed her intent but lacked the firepower needed to ignite Sri Lanka’s innings.

NZ-W vs SL-W Highlights: Amelia Kerr Spins A Web Around Sri Lankan Batters

The tide turned sharply in the 14th over when Amelia Kerr delivered a peach of a delivery to dismiss Athapaththu. Kerr’s breakthrough opened the floodgates, and Sri Lanka’s batting line-up began to crumble like a house of cards. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with the momentum slipping entirely out of Sri Lanka's hands.

Nilakshi de Silva’s late effort (11* off 14 balls) and Ama Kanchana’s 9 off 10 balls provided a faint glimmer, helping Sri Lanka reach 115/5. However, their contributions barely masked the middle-order collapse, with the scorecard reflecting the innings' lack of continuity.

Amelia Kerr’s remarkable 2/13 and Leigh Kasperek’s 2/27 stood out as they led the White Ferns’ attack with aplomb.

NZ-W vs SL-W Highlights: Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer Set the Tone

Chasing a target of 116, New Zealand Women began their innings with confidence and composure. Openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer laid a solid foundation, making the most of the powerplay with steady, risk-free strokes that kept the scoreboard ticking at a healthy rate.

Their partnership of 49 runs was cut short in the eighth over when Bates was dismissed for 17, yet by then, the Kiwis had already set themselves up for a comfortable chase.

NZ-W vs SL-W Highlights: Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr Take It Home

Georgia Plimmer, in fine form, continued to anchor the innings, bringing up a well-earned fifty. She kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay, guiding New Zealand toward victory with a composed 53 off 44 balls, before her departure in the 15th over.

Skipper Sophie Devine then joined Amelia Kerr at the crease, and the pair ensured there would be no twists in the tale. Both batters remained unbeaten, with Kerr finishing on 34 and Devine on 13, as New Zealand chased down the target in 17.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.