SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — New Zealand kept alive slim hopes of defending the Women's Twenty20 World Cup ***** le by beating Ireland by four runs in a thriller to the last ball on Friday.
Ten dropped catches cost New Zealand its first two games against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, and it faced elimination with two group games remaining if it didn't beat Ireland, also winless.
New Zealand recovered from 10-3 to post 140-6 on a last-ball six by Suzie Bates, the storied allrounder making her first appearance in the tournament only after fellow retiree-to-be Sophie Devine became ill.
New Zealand pacer Bree Illing bowled out with a sterling 1-18 but Ireland captain Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast played around her and Jess Kerr (0-23) in a partnership of 110 into the 18th over.
They put Ireland in sight of an historic first World Cup win after 19 defeats but Prendergast was caught near the boundary on 59. Lewis was still there on 58, though, until the next and 19th over when she gave Bates a catch at cover.
Ten dropped catches cost New Zealand its first two games against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, and it faced elimination with two group games remaining if it didn't beat Ireland, also winless.
New Zealand recovered from 10-3 to post 140-6 on a last-ball six by Suzie Bates, the storied allrounder making her first appearance in the tournament only after fellow retiree-to-be Sophie Devine became ill.
New Zealand pacer Bree Illing bowled out with a sterling 1-18 but Ireland captain Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast played around her and Jess Kerr (0-23) in a partnership of 110 into the 18th over.
They put Ireland in sight of an historic first World Cup win after 19 defeats but Prendergast was caught near the boundary on 59. Lewis was still there on 58, though, until the next and 19th over when she gave Bates a catch at cover.
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