Devine equals fastest tournament fifty, New Zealand demolish Ireland

Sophie Devine of New Zealand bats during the ICC Women's World T20 2018 match between New Zealand and Ireland at Guyana National Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Providence, Guyana.
Sophie Devine of New Zealand bats during the ICC Women's World T20 2018 match between New Zealand and Ireland at Guyana National Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Providence, Guyana.
  • Opener smashes 51 off 22 balls to post joint second-fastest fifty in all T20Is

New Zealand finished a disappointing tournament with an eight-wicket win over Ireland, as their batters made light work of Ireland’s total of 79 for nine. Sophie Devine hit the joint fastest-fifty in the tournament, matching the mark of 21 balls Australia’s Alyssa Healy set. The three sixes she hit took the tournament’s tally past 57, setting a record for the most sixes across editions of the ICC Women’s World T20, with five matches still to be played.

Ireland gave two of their players a guard-of-honour, as Clare Shillington and Ciara Metcalfe took the field in the second innings in their final international appearance for Ireland. Ireland finished last in Group B, still searching for their first win in the tournament history.

Devine (51, 22b, 7x4, 3x6) was belligerent at the top of the order, taking 16 runs off Metclafe’s only over of the night to set the tone. Suzie Bates scored 11 (12b) and became the first player to score more than 3000 T20I runs in the process. Both were dismissed as New Zealand closed in on the target, the White Ferns wrapping up an eight-wicket in 7.3 overs.

Earlier, Ireland won the toss and batted, showing much improved intent but rarely got value for their shots against a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack. 37-year old Shillington combined with the 17-year old Gaby Lewis to stitch together a 19-run partnership for the second wicket, before she was dismissed for 12 (22b, 1x4), bowled by a ball that kept low.

Lewis continued to show the right approach, shuffling across her crease to work her way into the vacant areas, and struck five boundaries in her knock of 39 (36b, 5x4), equaling the highest score for Ireland in the ICC Women’s World T20s. In the company of her captain Laura Delany (12, 22b) she put on 39-runs for the fourth wicket, before the team slid to a below-par score.

Delany’s dismissal opened the floodgates, as she became Lea Tahuhu’s second victim. Lewis departed the next over, and Ireland lost their last six wickets for nine runs. They finally finished on 79 for nine, with off-spinner Leigh Kasperek picking up three wickets.

Scores in brief:

New Zealand defeated Ireland by eight wickets at the Guyana National Stadium, Georgetown

Ireland: 79-9, 20 overs (Gaby Lewis 39; Leigh Kasperek 3-19, Lea Tahuhu 2-17, Amelia Kerr 2-18)
New Zealand: 81-2 in 7.3 overs (Sophie Devine 51)