Dashing Devine blazes quick-fire half century as New Zealand ends with win

Stand-alone Women’s World T20 tournament…Stand-alone Women’s World T20 tournament…

By Brandon Corlette

Contrasting qualities between the two teams were exposed as New Zealand thumped Ireland by eight wickets in their final group match — a one-sided affair in which New Zealand restricted Ireland for an embarrassing 79-9 when their 20 overs had expired.
The opening New Zealand batters set the tone, with Devine’s counter-attacking 51 ending Ireland miserable World T20 campaign. It was impossible for Ireland or New Zealand to qualify for the semi-finals, but the players were playing for pride in the final match at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara,

Guyana.
Ireland captain Laura Delany won the toss and opted to bat first, as the openers made one final walk to the crease in this tournament. Clare Shillington and Cecilia Joyce looked fidgety at the crease as the Irish batting efforts in this tournament continued downhill. Joyce was removed at the end of the third over for one, with the score on 11.
Seventeen-year-old Gabby Lewis, batting with a sound technique and standing out from her colleagues as she produced the full-face of the bat, watched in dismay as her partners handed their wickets to the New Zealand bowlers.
Pace ace Lea Tahuhu started the proceedings that had the Irish batters on the back-foot. Shillington, with her international career quickly approaching an end, played 22 balls to score 12 runs. Gabby Lewis scored an attractive 39, including five good-looking fours. The last six Irish batters totalled 10 runs, as they completed another horrific batting performance in this tournament.
Amy Satterthwaite chopped and changed her spinners well as they utilised the prevailing conditions to perfection. Leigh Kasperek bowled with accuracy and picked up three wickets for 19 runs at an economy rate of 4.75. Leg-spinner Amelia Keer continued her good bowling form with 2-18; and Lea Tahuhu, the fastest bowler on show, snatched 2-17 in her four-over spell to help restrict Ireland to 79-9.
The explosive Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates then made light work of the small target, as the Ireland bowlers were low on confidence since they had few runs to play with. Devine was the extreme aggressor in the partnership, as New Zealand raced away to 50 after four overs in pursuit of 80 runs for victory. Bates knocked the ball around while Devine powered the ball over the ropes until Delany removed her.
Richardson removed Bates for 11, but it was a little too late for Ireland. New Zealand arrived at their small target with few hiccups, losing two wickets and winning by eight wickets with 12.3 overs to spare.