New Zealand keep hopes alive while India maintain perfection

• New Zealand face Australia on Monday with the winner reaching the semi-finals
• The White Ferns were bowled out for 91 but fought back to beat Bangladesh
• India remain unbeaten after beating Sri Lanka in their final Group A encounter

Sophie Devine’s side were bowled out for 91 but responded in kind with ball in hand, dismissing Bangladesh for 74 in a low-scoring thriller at Junction Oval.

Victory means their match against Australia at the same venue on Monday is a straight shootout for the knockout stages, with the winner booking their place in the semi-finals.

India were already guaranteed their place in the last four but ensured they’ll head to the Sydney Cricket Ground in fine fettle, beating Sri Lanka for their fourth Group A win from four.

New Zealand hold their nerve to complete comeback

Hearts were racing at the Junction Oval when New Zealand were dismissed for just 91 but their bowlers delivered when it mattered most to down Bangladesh by 17 runs.

Defeat would not have eliminated the White Ferns but would have made their aim of progression much tougher, a scenario which looked on when Ritu Moni (four for 18) took the best figures of the tournament to date.

None of the New Zealand batters could get going but they came back strongly with the ball, Hayley Jensen (three for 11) and Leigh Kasperek (three for 23) leading the way in Melbourne.

Economical bowling from Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine and Anna Peterson was also invaluable as Bangladesh fell to 74 all out, Nigar Sultana Joty top-scoring with 21.

“I don’t think the batting is a cause for concern,” said Kasperek. “They’ll probably be a little bit disappointed in how they’ve gone but they’ve been hitting well in training and we’re lucky we’ve got the number one and number two batters in the world.

“I think the very fact that against both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka we’ve managed to get over the line proves that. Other people have been stepping up.

“You want your big players to step up in big games, so hopefully they can do that against Australia on Monday.

“I think we were always confident we could defend it if we got them above six an over. Once we did that, we could relax a little. We had a plan and stuck to it really well.”

Ritu added: “That was really a poor performance from us. Credit goes to New Zealand for the way they bowled.

“The coaches always emphasise bowling in the right spot on the right line. I’ve worked hard on that and I’m pleased to pull it off.

“After the first innings we had no plans to bat quickly, we wanted to go calm and quietly, but unfortunately we weren’t able to do it well.

“We need to play regular cricket series with the top-ranked teams as that is the best way to help us improve.”

Unbeaten India make it four from four

India finished Group A with a perfect record as a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka saw them win their fourth game of the tournament.

As she has throughout the competition, Shafali Verma lit up the stage with a fluent 47 atop the order, allowing India to chase 114 with 32 balls to spare in Melbourne.

Chamari Athapaththu threatened a decent total with the bat for Sri Lanka but when she perished to Radha Yadav in the ninth over, the momentum shifted.

Yadav was the star of the show with the ball as India sealed top spot in Group A, her figures of four for 23 the best she has produced at international level.

“I knew if I got the opportunity, I could help the team win,” said Yadav. “It feels great when you do something good for your team. I worked hard for the last two weeks and I’m really happy it paid off.

“My mindset often gets jumbled and I start overthinking about a lot of things, especially my action and my deliveries in general, but he has supported me a lot by freeing my mind up and clearing the clutter.

“We were working hard for this, so I’m really happy that we have won four consecutive matches. I’m feeling good in general now and I want to do even better in the semi-finals.”

Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu added: “We dropped Sophie Devine twice, then we dropped Rachael Haynes twice and now Shafali Verma.

“Catches win matches, and we have to be taking them when aggressive batters give them, otherwise we can’t stop them.

“Hopefully our batting unit steps up in the next game. We don’t have many experienced batters, so I have to try and stay there and play my positive cricket.

“The whole batting line-up depends on me, so we are trying to improve that area in the next couple of months.

“India are a great team and I hope to see them play in the final.”

Scores in brief

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 17 runs, Junction Oval, Melbourne

New Zealand 91 all out, 18.2 overs (Rachel Priest 25; Ritu Moni 4-18, Salma Khatun 3-7)
Bangladesh 74 all out, 19.5 overs (Nigar Sultana Joty 21, Hayley Jensen 3-11, Leigh Kasperek 3-23)

India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets, Junction Oval, Melbourne

Sri Lanka 113-9, 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 33; Radha Yadav 4-23, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-18)
India 116-3, 14.4 overs (Shafali Verma 47, Smriti Mandhana 17; Udeshika Prabodani 1-13)