New Zealand reach Women's T20 World Cup final after 14 years

New Zealand has advanced to the final of the Women's T20 World Cup for the first time in 14 years, defeating West Indies by eight runs in a nail-biting semi-final in Sharjah. They will face South Africa, who were the runners-up in 2023, meaning the tournament will crown a first-time champion.

Opting to bat first, New Zealand struggled to put runs on the board, finishing at 128 for 9 on a pitch where batting was challenging. West Indies’ Deandra Dottin was brilliant with the ball, taking 4 for 22. However, the West Indies’ chase did not go as planned, with New Zealand’s Eden Carson leading the charge in the powerplay to restrict them to 25 for 2.

Despite efforts from Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor, who managed just 28 runs from 41 balls combined, West Indies found themselves at 51 for 4, still needing 78 runs from 55 balls. Dottin, once again, tried to revive the innings with a quickfire 33 off 22 balls, hitting three sixes in an over off Lea Tahuhu, which reduced the target to 34 runs from 24 balls.

However, Amelia Kerr, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, ended Dottin's aggressive knock in the 17th over with a well-timed delivery. Though New Zealand dropped five catches, their bowlers managed to hold off West Indies, who finished at 120 for 8, falling short by just eight runs.

Eden Carson has been New Zealand’s go-to bowler during the powerplay, and she continued her form in the semi-final. After conceding two boundaries to Qiana Joseph, Carson bowled her with a ball that spun past the bat and hit the stumps. Soon after, she dismissed Shemaine Campbelle for a mere 2, leaving West Indies struggling at 20 for 2.

Carson returned to take the crucial wicket of Stafanie Taylor, who was bowled after scoring a slow 13 from 20 balls. Carson finished with figures of 3 for 29 and was named Player of the Match for the second consecutive game.

West Indies had a strong start with the ball, restricting New Zealand to just 32 runs in the first six overs. Chinelle Henry’s tight bowling made it difficult for New Zealand to build momentum. Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates struggled to find their rhythm, with two of New Zealand’s three boundaries coming from loose deliveries.

Deandra Dottin, although bowling only for the second time in the tournament, made a huge impact with the ball. She used her experience to bowl full and straight, mixing in slower deliveries that troubled the New Zealand batters. Dottin took her third four-wicket haul in T20 World Cup history, first removing Amelia Kerr and then rattling Brooke Halliday’s stumps with a yorker.

Dottin also sent back Maddy Green and trapped Rosemary Mair lbw using DRS, reducing New Zealand to 104 for 7. However, New Zealand managed to squeeze out 24 runs from the last three overs, a crucial contribution that helped them post a defendable total.

New Zealand now prepares for the final, where they will face South Africa in a contest that promises to crown a new T20 World Cup champion.