NZ-W vs SL-W

An ideal result for New Zeland and that has got them right back in the mix for the semis. The India-Australia match tomorrow becomes a must-win for India now and New Zeland will know exactly what they need to do when they take on Pakistan in a couple of days to wind up their group stage. For Sri Lanka, it has been a campaign to forget. They entered this competition with high hopes on the back of some good wins but they have failed to produce what they would have liked. That is it from here but we have got cricketing action coming thick and fast for you, hop on to here to follow the second match of the day in the Women's T20WC between Bangladesh and South Africa. Also, you can follow the third and final T20 match of the 3-match series between India and Bangladesh here. This is Sourabh and Rudransh taking your leave, see you soon!

Sophie Devine (New Zeland Women captain): Really pleased. I don't think we bowled as well as we could but then to chase it down, Georgia Plimmer was absolutely brilliant. We actually didn't (have a chat about NRR), to be perfectly honest. It was important for us to get the win and then we will have a look at how the other results go. She (Plimmer) has worked really hard on her game, has copped some flack as well but you have got to remember that she is just 22 and if she carries on what she is doing she has a really bright future. This group is really flexible (in terms of the batting order), nice for me to go out in the end and be a bit lazy (laughs), not run a lot.

Chamari Aththapaththu (Sri Lanka Women captain): We did not play our best cricket throughout the tournament. Today it was a little bit improvement from the batters but we needed 20-25 more runs as this was a good pitch. The bowlers did well. I asked the batters to play positive cricket, also to myself, to play my natural cricket but unfortunately it was not enough. We have played good cricket in the last couple of months but we were not at our best in this tournament. The first loss against Pakistan really pushed our mindset down.

Georgia Plimmer is the Player of the Match for her 53 (44), here's what she has to say: I think we have talked a lot about how to play in the powerplay in these conditions. I just try to play my brand. Sometimes it might not come off but when it does, it helps the team. I just wanted to get out of here early! No, it was just trying to be positive and play my brand. We are friends and love each other outside of cricket. But we have a clear plan. World Cups don't come often and it's about putting our best foot forward. We had a difficult phase of six months but it's good to get some wins here. 

16:53 Local Time (18:23 IST):

New Zeland Women win by 8 wickets with 15 balls to spare

Georgia Plimmer 53(44) | Amelia Kerr 2/13 (4)
Chamari Athapaththu 35(41) | Chamari Athapaththu 1/8 (2)

A clinical performance from the White Ferns and they have brushed aside the Sri Lankan challenge with ease and in the process have registered an important win for themselves, their 2nd in 3 games.

The target of 116 meant that Sri Lanka needed early wickets to make anything out of this match but the opening pair of Bates & Plimmer made sure that they did not allow that to happen and gave the Kiwis a sensible and steady start dismissing any seeds of doubts, if any, like a top-class team should do.

Bates was not at her fluent best and was castled to a false shot from Nisansala with the team score at 49. But then, Plimmer was joined by Amelia Kerr who looked fluent from the get-go. Both the girls went about their business in an untroubled way and sucked the life out of the Sri Lankan attack. Sri Lanka were guilty of being sloppy on the field and they gave away at least 15-odd runs with their lackluster effort.

Plimmer registered a fifty and then got out soon but she had already done her job by then. Kerr was steady at the other end and she was joined by skipper Devine who applied the finishing touches and got the winning runs with the only six of the match.

As far as Sri Lanka were concerned, this was a slightly improved performance yet a dismal show and that is how their tournament has ended.

17.3 Sugandika Kumari to Sophie Devine, SIX TO FINISH! The first six of the match is also its final act. Floated on middle and leg, Devine holds her shape and powers it over deep mid-wicket! It disappears into the stands and New Zealand take a big step towards the semis with an eight-wicket win!

17.2 Sugandika Kumari to Amelia Kerr, she comes down the ground and Kumari follows her with a short and quick one down the leg, Kerr pulls it past fine leg but deep square leg covers

16.6 Sachini Nisansala to Sophie Devine, oh good fielding at deep fine leg. Charges down the track but gets beaten by the slow pace on the cross-batted shot. Gets a thick inside edge that goes past her stumps and the keeper. The fielder in the deep runs back and puts in a straight dive to drag the ball back from just over the ropes. Still three.

4 overs remain now and the result is merely a formality now, isn't it? Don't think New Zeland are going to squander this. Will set up a must win encounter for India against Australia tomorrow.