Afy Fletcher walks off as New Zealand players celebrate their win over the West Indies in the second semi-final at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Friday.
Associated Press
The West Indies Women came agonizingly short of a second trip to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final after suffering an eight-run loss to New Zealand in their semi-final in Sharjah on Friday.
New Zealand first made 128-9 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Openers Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates were the main run getters with 33 and 26, respectively, while Isabella Gaze made a crucial 20* off 14 balls at the backend of the innings.
Deandra Dottin produced an excellent spell of bowling with 4-22 from her four overs while Afy Fletcher continued her good form with the ball in the tournament with 2-23 from three overs.
Karishma Ramharack and Aaliyah Alleyne split the other two wickets.
The West Indies then came up just short of their target in the end, reaching 120-8 off their 20 overs.
Openers Qiana Joseph and captain Hayley Matthews put on 16 for the first wicket before Joseph went for 12 with two balls remaining in the third over.
The wickets of Shemaine Campbelle (3) and the returning Stafanie Taylor (13) followed soon after leaving the Windies 41-3 in the ninth over.
Not long after, all hope seemed lost as Matthews went for a hard-fought 15 off 21 balls in the 11th over before Aaliyah Alleyne’s wicket for four in the 14th over left the West Indies looking all but beaten at 63-5.
A fighting 33-run sixth wicket partnership between Deandra Dottin and Afy Fletcher made things interesting including 23-run 16th over that left the West Indies needing just 34 from the final 24 deliveries.
Dottin’s wicket off the third ball of the next over for a 22-ball 33 pretty much ended all hope for a West Indies victory.
After Chedean Nation came and went for a duck, Fletcher was joined by Zaida James and the pair tried their best to combat some smart bowling from the New Zealanders.
Eventually, the West Indies got to the last over needing 15 to win.
A boundary from James off the first ball produced some nerves for New Zealand but that was followed by a dot ball and then a wicket, putting an end to the West Indian charge.
Fletcher finished 17* while James made 14 from eight balls.
Eden Carson finished with 3-29 from her four overs while Captain Amelia Kerr took 2-14 from four overs.
New Zealand will now take on South Africa in Sunday’s final with both teams looking for their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title.
Full Scores:
New Zealand Women 128-9 off 20 overs (Georgia Plimmer 33, Suzie Bates 26, Isabella Gaze 20*, Deandra Dottin 4-22, Afy Fletcher 2-23)
West Indies Women 120-8 off 20 overs (Deandra Dottin 33, Afy Fletcher 17*, Eden Carson 3-29, Amelia Kerr 2-14)
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
Sherfane Rutherford’s maiden ODI century leads West Indies to record chase against Bangladesh
Sherfane Rutherford’s maiden ODI century powered the West Indies to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first of three One-Day Internationals at Warner Park in St Kitts on Sunday. The win, sealed with 14 balls to spare, ended Bangladesh’s 11-game winning streak against the West Indies and marked the highest successful chase and second-innings total at the venue.
Chasing 295, the West Indies found themselves in early trouble at 94-3 in the 22nd over. Openers Brandon King (6) and Evin Lewis (16) struggled to get going against disciplined bowling from Bangladesh, while Kaecy Carty’s 21 came to an end just as he looked to settle. At this stage, Bangladesh’s total of 294-6, built on fifties from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (74), Tanzid Hasan (60), and Mahmudullah (50 not out), as well as Jaker Ali’s valuable 48, seemed more than enough.
However, the game took a dramatic turn with a 99-run partnership between Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford. Hope steadied the innings with his trademark composure, scoring 86 off 88 balls with three fours and four sixes. Rutherford, who came into the match with four consecutive fifties, once again delivered under pressure. This time, he turned his brilliant form into a dazzling 113 from just 80 balls, laced with seven fours and eight towering sixes.
Hope scored a solid 86 from 88 balls.
Bangladesh had no answer for Rutherford’s power-hitting, which completely shifted the momentum. His partnership with Hope set the foundation for the chase, and even after his dismissal with just seven runs needed from the final 20 balls, Justin Greaves ensured there were no last-minute nerves. Greaves finished unbeaten on 41 from 31 balls, striking five boundaries, while Roston Chase’s composed two not out saw the West Indies home.
Earlier in the day, Romario Shepherd (3-51) and Alzarri Joseph (2-67) were instrumental in restricting Bangladesh to under 300, as the visitors looked on course for a bigger total during the middle overs.
The victory is a major boost for the West Indies, showcasing their resilience and growing confidence in ODIs. For Bangladesh, it was a case of missed opportunities as their bowlers failed to close out a strong start.
With two more matches to come, the series remains wide open, promising more fireworks as both teams aim to outdo each other.
Brook labelled as 'best in the world' by England centurion Root
Joe Root lauded Harry Brook as the world's best batter after England completed their series victory away to New Zealand on Sunday.
Ben Stokes' tourists coasted to a 323-run victory in the second Test against New Zealand, sealing an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
It looked like England could be in trouble in Wellington after slipping to 43-4 in the first innings, only for Brook's 123 and 66 from Ollie Pope dragging their side to 280 all out.
Brook now has seven centuries in just 10 Tests away from home, the most by any batter in his first 10 such outings outside of their home country.
Yorkshire and England team-mate Root believes there is no player better than Brook at present.
"Just been a great week, from the position we were in, to then manage to win the game by day three, just shows how well the boys played," Root said.
"That partnership from Popey and Brooky, who is in my eyes the best player in the world at the minute.
"He's got it all, he can absorb pressure and put it back on you. He is destructive against both pace and spin, to manage those conditions exceptionally well and play some great counter-attacking cricket."
Root compiled a 130-ball 106 in the second innings as Stokes' side hammered home their advantage, with Jacob Bethell adding 96, four more than opener Ben Duckett managed.
England great Root now has 36 centuries in Tests, the joint-fifth most by any batter, alongside India's Rahul Dravid.
He brought up three figures with a trademark ramp over New Zealand wicket-keeper Tom Blundell from the bowling of seamer Will O’Rourke.
Root admitted the shot was somewhat pre-meditated, having seen the hosts alter the field.
"It wasn't [at first pre-meditated], and then they brought third man up," Root added.
"I was like it's the new ball, they are more likely to go length than short. It's worth a gamble, it's worth the risk!"
India players 'not scarred' by Australia thrashing, insists Rohit
India captain Rohit Sharma insisted his side's thrashing against Australia in their second Test will not leave his players with mental scars.
Australia romped to a 10-wicket triumph in Adelaide on Sunday to level the five-match series, with Travis Head, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins starring for the tourists.
Head's knock of 140 from 141 deliveries in the first innings put the Baggy Greens in control, before Starc and Cummins took 15 wickets between them to seal an impressive victory.
Cummins claimed his ninth Test five-for, with only Richie Benaud (nine) and Imran Khan (12) taking more as a captain for their respective nations.
None of India's players made a half-century in either innings, while their bowling attack failed to capitalise when conditions were in their favour, but Rohit remained positive.
"Firstly, it's not a [mental] scar, it's just we've lost a Test match. We didn't play well enough," he said.
"It's still 1-1 and plenty of things left in this series, and definitely a way for us to get back into it. I am not going to look too much into this game and start worrying about little things.
"A disappointing week for us, we didn't play well, and Australia played better cricket than us and won the Test match. We failed to grab our opportunities. We didn't bat well enough, probably 30-40 runs short with the bat in the first innings.
"There were opportunities when Australia were batting, and we failed to take those chances. When you miss those chances, it’s never easy."
The third Test takes place next Saturday at The Gabba, with India hoping to replicate their last encounter at the iconic venue, when Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 89 saw them chase down 328 to inflict Australia's first loss there since 1988.
"We are looking forward to it. [We have] some really good memories there. We want to start well and play well. There's not much time in between as well," he said.
"You know we just want to go out there and think about what we did right in Perth, and also what we did last time when we were here."
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