New Zealand captain Sophie Devine praised her team for their resilience in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup after they scored an impressive 102-run victory over Sri Lanka. The White Ferns bounced back from losing their first two games to maintain their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.
Devine said the partnerships built by the team were outstanding and added that she was extremely proud of the group's performance. Player of the Match, Amelia Kerr, was delighted with the team's win, adding that it was a tough start to the tournament but a great result for the team.
However, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu admitted her side lacked experience, with only a few senior players in the team. She said they needed to stick to their plans and not take too much pressure on their shoulders, adding that they had learned a lot of things and would try to carry those things forward and play good cricket in the future.
The victory was a significant boost for the White Ferns, who are hoping to make the semi-finals of the tournament. They posted a towering 162 for three, with Kerr scoring 66 runs, before rolling Sri Lanka for just 60 runs.
New Zealand's victory was much needed after losing their first two matches of the tournament against Australia and India. The White Ferns' convincing win over Sri Lanka has kept their hopes alive for a spot in the semi-finals, but they still have a tough task ahead of them. They will need to win their remaining two matches against Bangladesh and South Africa, and hope that other results go in their favor.
New Zealand's batting in the match was led by Amelia Kerr, who scored a fantastic 66 off 38 balls. She formed a crucial 113-run partnership with Suzie Bates, who scored 35. Kerr's innings included 6 fours and 3 sixes and she was named player of the match for her all-round performance.
In response, Sri Lanka's batters struggled against New Zealand's bowling attack. They were bowled out for just 60 in 13.4 overs, with only two batters reaching double figures. Amelia Kerr also contributed with the ball, taking two wickets for just seven runs in two overs. The other bowlers for New Zealand, including Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, and Rosemary Mair, all took wickets and restricted Sri Lanka to a low total.
For Sri Lanka, it was a disappointing result, as they now have no chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. They had a tough start to the tournament, losing to India by 34 runs and Australia by 5 wickets. Their captain, Chamari Athapaththu, who had scored an unbeaten century against Australia, failed to make an impact against New Zealand and was dismissed for just 6.
New Zealand, will be looking to carry the momentum from their victory into their next match against Bangladesh on Thursday. They will need to win that match, as well as their final group game against South Africa, to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.