St Kitts: New Zealand's women booked their place in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 with a comprehensive 47-run victory over Sri Lanka at Basseterre.
After winning the toss and batting first, the mainstay of New Zealand's performance was the opener, Suzie Bates, whose aggressive 43-ball 50 set the tone for an imposing total of 154 for 7. In reply, Sri Lanka started brightly, adding 32 inside the first five overs, but lost momentum to finish well adrift on 107 for 8.
Bates and Aimee Watkins (20) added 54 for New Zealand's first wicket, before Sara McGlashan raised the tempo with two fours and two sixes in a 23-ball 31. At 112 for 4 with four overs remaining, Elizabeth Perry and Nicola Browne put the seal on a comprehensive performance with scores of 19 and 20, each from 12 balls.
The one Sri Lankan bowler to keep New Zealand in check was the seamer, Chamani Seneviratna, who claimed 4 for 21 in her four overs, including three in four balls at the very end of the innings. It wasn't, however, enough to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt. Chamari Atapattu made 21 from 14 balls and Suwini de Alwis 26 from 24, but only one other batsman managed double-figures.
Brief scores
New Zealand women 154 for 7 (Bates 50, Seneviratna 4-21)
Sri Lanka women 107 for 8
Result New Zealand women won by 47 runs
MOM Suzie Bates (New Zealand Women)