South Africa and New Zealand emerged victorious in their respective Women’s T20 World Cup matches on Saturday, strengthening their positions in the tournament. However, their ultimate fate remains uncertain as they face formidable opponents in the remaining group stage fixtures.
South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai, restricting their opponents to a modest 106-3. Tazmin Brits led the chase with a steady 42 off 41 balls, while Anneke Bosch contributed 25. Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon guided the team home with unbeaten knocks of 13 and 14, respectively.
Despite their victory, South Africa’s semi-final hopes hinge on the outcome of England’s remaining matches. England, with two wins from three games, is likely to secure a semi-final berth, leaving South Africa and West Indies vying for the final spot. West Indies, the 2016 champions, have a better net run-rate than South Africa but face a daunting task against England in their final group game.
In Sharjah, New Zealand dominated Sri Lanka, chasing down a target of 116 with 15 balls to spare. Georgia Plimmer, a 20-year-old opener, impressed with a 53-run knock, while captain Sophie Devine sealed the victory with a six. New Zealand’s victory keeps them in contention for a semi-final spot, but their fate depends on the results of India’s match against Australia and their own clash with Pakistan on Monday.
India and Australia, the defending champions, remain the frontrunners in Group A, with both teams boasting perfect records after three games. New Zealand’s chances of reaching the semi-finals will hinge on their ability to overcome Pakistan and the outcome of the India-Australia match.
