Defending champions Australia advanced to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semifinals after knocking out New Zealand with a four-run win in their must-win final Group A match here on Monday.
Beth Mooney’s brilliant half-century proved the difference as four-time champions Australia halted New Zealand in a chase of 155 four runs short. Mooney hit 60 off 50 balls in the must-win match.
Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham’s three for 17 sent the top-order into collapse and ensured a semi-final berth for the hosts, who will face either South Africa or England in Sydney.
Mooney’s 60 runs from 50 balls, including six fours and two sixes, helped Australia to 155 for five with the White Ferns requiring the highest successful chase of the tournament to win at Junction Oval.
New Zealand, who have made the semi-finals once since 2012, fell agonisingly short as their top-order struggled in Melbourne for the third successive game.
Megan Schutt took three for 22 but Wareham was the pick of the bowlers after taking the crucial wickets of Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Maddy Green to set Australia on their way.
Siriwardena shines
Elsewhere in the other game, Shashikala Siriwardena produced the perfect swansong to her international career by taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s victory over Bangladesh.
Siriwardena’s World Cup best and Achini Kulasuriya’s two for 19 saw Bangladesh slip up in their final match of the tournament.
Hasini Perera’s 39 not out helped to seal Sri Lanka’s first victory by nine wickets with 27 balls to spare.
Siriwardena’s figures were the best in the tournament to date in her final international match, with her four for 16 a memorable farewell after 17 years of service to Sri Lankan cricket.