White Ferns in medal mix

Cricket

The White Ferns are in the Commonwealth Games medal mix after crushing Sri Lanka in the women’s Twenty20 cricket tournament yesterday.

New Zealand completed a 45-run win to confirm their semifinals place.

New Zealand still have a pool match against England tomorrow. But with England beating South Africa by 26 runs earlier in the day, that match will likely sort out who avoids Australia in the semifinals.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand spluttered along to 147-7 against the all-spin attack of Sri Lanka.

But the New Zealand bowlers completely dominated, restricting Sri Lanka to 102-8 and maintaining their perfect record against this opposition. Fast bowler Hayley Jensen claimed career-best figures of 3-5.

New Zealand started promisingly with veterans Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine getting through to 50 off 40 balls.

But the loss of Devine in the seventh over for 24 off 23 balls, started a steady stream of wickets that included the dangerous Amelia Kerr quickly removed for just seven.

Without partnerships, the White Ferns struggled to get momentum going.

Jensen immediately set the tone in the field. She should have had Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu out lbw first ball, but New Zealand decided not to review. Three balls later a Jensen inswinger smashed into Athapaththu’s stumps.

Sri Lanka quickly fell off the pace and at 35-5 after 10 overs they were threatening their lowest T20 total of 57 against Bangladesh. A brave Nilakshi de Silva, with a game-high 36 off 35 balls including three fours and a six, got them safely past that.