T20 World Cup 2023: New Zealand thrash Bangladesh by 71 runs, stay mathematically alive in race to semis
FirstpostCape Town: New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said New Zealand still had hopes of reaching the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals after they trounced Bangladesh by 71 runs at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday. “I’m really proud of this group but we’ve got a big game to go.” New Zealand’s chances of progressing beyond the group stage looked impossible after they lost their first two matches by big margins. Bates, who became the first woman from any country to reach 1,000 runs in T20 World Cups, said the New Zealand players were “absolutely gutted” after their first two matches. What pleased me most was that we stuck to exactly what we talked about.” Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said her team had conceded “too many runs in the bowling and we couldn’t get many runs in the power play.” Bates and Bernardine Bezuidenhout laid the foundation for New Zealand with a first-wicket stand of 77 in 8.4 overs, while Maddy Green thrashed an unbeaten 44 off 20 balls to help Bates add 73 in the last seven overs.