The Women’s T20 World Cup is guaranteed a first-time winner as New Zealand beat West Indies by eight runs to join South Africa in Sunday’s final.
West Indies slipped to 63-5 in pursuit of 129 on Sharjah’s slow pitch, before Deandra Dottin’s dynamic 33 from 22 balls, with three sixes, rejuvenated the chase.
But Melie Kerr struck the crucial blow in the 17th over to have Dottin caught at short fine leg which all-but sealed the White Ferns’ victory.
The experienced Suzie Bates was tasked with defending 14 off the final over, having not bowled all tournament, but held her nerve as West Indies finished on 120-8.
Kerr finished with 2-14 and Eden Carson 3-29 to prevent West Indies from reaching their second final, which will be contested at the more batter-friendly Dubai.
In contrast to their explosive innings against England on Tuesday, West Indies struggled for fluency with opener Qiana Joseph falling for 12, captain Hayley Matthews stuttering to 15 from 21 balls and veteran Stafanie Taylor only managing 13.
Dottin was dropped three times as she tried in vain to catch up with the run-rate with her usual aggression, but it proved beyond even her reach as West Indies paid the price for a pedestrian start which included a powerplay score of just 25-2.
The all-rounder, who reversed her retirement to play in this tournament, earlier took 4-22 as New Zealand also could not score freely on the tricky surface.
Therefore the toss proved pivotal as Sophie Devine opted to bat first, with Georgia Plimmer’s 33 from 31 balls the top score while Brooke Halliday’s nine-ball 18 provided some much-needed impetus after the cautious start to the innings.
Regular wickets had heaped the pressure on the middle order, with Melie Kerr, Maddy Green and Rosemary Mair departing for single-figure scores to Dottin but Izzy Gaze’s 20 not out provided a late flurry for New Zealand to reach their eventual match-winning total.
It is New Zealand’s first World Cup final appearance since 2010, when they were beaten by Australia.
South Africa were beaten finalists by Australia in last year’s final in Cape Town. (BBC News)
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