India beat New Zealand to enter semis

Monitoring Desk

MELBOURNE: India survived a late scare to edge past New Zealand by three runs in a thrilling finish to secure their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

India reached 133-8, with Shafali Verma, 16, again impressing with 46.

Amelia Kerr’s magnificent 34 from 24 balls then gave New Zealand hope, but they fell just short.

India are two points clear at the top of Group A with a maximum six points from their first three games.

They play Sri Lanka in their final group game in Melbourne on Saturday, with New Zealand facing Bangladesh at the same venue on Friday.

Asked to bat first by New Zealand, India, who had beaten Australia and Bangladesh in their first two group games, once again got off to a fine start thanks to Verma.

The teenager continued her impressive tournament with her 46 coming off just 34 deliveries, featuring four fours and three sixes, though she was dropped twice on 25 and 32.

India looked well set at 80-2 after 11 overs, but the spin of Leigh Kasperek (1-19) and Kerr (2-21) helped to drag the match back into New Zealand’s favour, with India losing five wickets for 31 runs in the middle order.

New Zealand struggled early in their reply, with Poonam Yadav claiming the key wicket of captain Sophie Devine – who had reached 50 in her last six innings – for 14.

But, after being reduced 39-3 from eight overs, Maddy Green (24) and Katey Martin (25) rebuilt the innings.

When Martin went to leave New Zealand 90-5 with three-and-a-half overs remaining, it looked like being a comfortable victory for India.

However, Kerr’s late flurry gave New Zealand hope and left them needing 16 to win off the final over.

Kerr and batting partner Hayley Jensen struck 11 off the first five deliveries to leave them needing a boundary off the last ball to force a super over, but they could only run a scrambled single after an excellent yorker by Shikha Pandey. (BBC)