Women T20 World Cup: India beat New Zealand, reaches semi-finals

New Delhi : Indian bowlers continued their brilliant bowling performance against the New Zealand to ensure a semifinal berth in the Women's T20 World Cup at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Thursday. 

With the third straight win, team India has also secured the top position in Group A with 6 points in 3 matches.

Though India did not play well with the bat and managed to score only 133 runs in the designated 20 overs, but the bowlers played a special inning and managed to defend the total. However, Amelia Kerr held her nerves to bring the situation down to 5 runs off the last delivery with her 19-ball 34 but could not see her side through as New Zealand suffered a heart-breaking 4-run defeat.

New Zealand star batters Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates failed to get among the runs in the crucial clash. Poonam Yadav broke Devine's run of 6 successive 50-plus scores in the format while Deepti Sharma dismissed Bates for her 50th T20I wicket.

Despite quick fall of wickets, India managed to get past 130-mark, thanks to Radha Yadav's 9-ball 14 while batting at No. 9.