Kerr steers New Zealand to crucial win over Sri Lanka

At the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Amelia Kerr starred with the bat and the ball as she led New Zealand to an easy eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.

After Sri Lanka set the White Ferns 115 runs to win with the ball, Kerr got two for 13 with it and then struck 34 runs from 31 balls to lead her team home.

Georgia Plimmer's outstanding half-century provided New Zealand with the ideal foundation for victory, while Kerr and captain Sophie Devine worked together to push them across the finish line and preserve her team's chances of making it to the semi-finals.

With openers Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu both hitting the boundary in the first overs and taking advantage of some careless bowling from New Zealand, Sri Lanka started their innings strongly.

However, Eden Carson's eight-ball dismissal of Gunaratne in the fourth over gave the White Ferns a vital early advantage.

Harshitha Samarawickrama, the new batter, and Captain Athapaththu worked well together to steadie the Sri Lankan ship. The two built a solid foundation for their side with a 48-run stand.

With 35 off 41 runs, Athapaththu took the lead until spinner Kerr got her maiden wicket of the day to dismiss the Sri Lankan captain.

With Sri Lanka 74 for two, that proved to be a crucial intervention. Five balls later, Samarawickrama went for eighteen, unable to chip to extra cover after a brilliant ball from Leigh Kasperek.

In an attempt to increase her team's run rate, Kavisha Dilhari produced an outstanding Dil-scoop as Sri Lanka attempted to react in the last five overs.

However, the White Ferns continued to take wickets when it mattered most. Anushka Sanjeewani (5) became Kasperek's second victim of the competition when she attempted to hit down the ground but was only successful in hitting Devine's hands.

Then, when Dilhari (10) attempted to sweep for the boundary, Kerr struck once more to claim her second wicket of the game by trapping her leg before.

After that, Sri Lanka was down to 97 for five, but Nilakshika Silva (14 not out) and Ama Kanchana (10 not out) persevered and helped their team reach their tournament-high score of 115.

After having to start their chase slowly, New Zealand quickly gathered up speed thanks to opener Plimmer.

The right-hander opened the innings with boundaries from the first ball of back-to-back overs, after a plodding first four overs navigating the Sri Lankan spin assault. She and Suzie Bates then each smashed a boundary in the seventh over to leave the White Ferns 48 without loss. 

After it seemed like New Zealand was taking control of the match, Sri Lanka broke the opening partnership when Sachini Nisansala dismissed Bates for 17 runs.

Inoshi Priyadharshani nearly claimed a second wicket in as many balls, but she was unable to hold onto a close-range drive from Plimmer off her own bowling.

As New Zealand attempted to restore momentum, Kerr instantly became comfortable with the bat, crushing a cover drive for four off her very first ball.

That's just what they achieved, as Plimmer and Kerr worked well together to lead their team to victory and the 100-point threshold.

Before Athapaththu eventually secured the necessary wicket to dismiss the opener for 53 off 44 balls, Plimmer recorded an outstanding half-century.

Kerr took the initiative right away and used another boundary through point to push the White Ferns over 100.

Together with captain Devine, who had a decisive six with 15 balls remaining, her 34 off 31 balls was sufficient to win the match.

Brief scores

At Sharjah International Stadium in Sharjah, Sri Lanka will play New Zealand.

In 20 overs, Sri Lanka scored 115/5 (Amelia Kerr 2/13, Leigh Kasperek 2/27; Chamari Athapaththu 35, Harshitha Samarawickrama 18).

(Georgia Plimmer 53, Amelia Kerr 34; Chamari Athapaththu 1/8, Sachini Nisansala 1/24) New Zealand 118/2 in 17.3 overs

New Zealand wins by eight wickets as a result.