Women's T20 World Cup: New Zealand Stay Alive In Semi-final Race; Pakistan, Sri Lanka Lose

The battle to reach the Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals will go down to the last group match after New Zealand kept their hopes alive with a 102-run rout of Sri Lanka at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday. "We've given ourselves a chance, even it's only a small, tiny chance," said New Zealand captain Sophie Devine. Australia are assured of winning Group One but the other qualifiers from the group will only be known after South Africa play Bangladesh at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.

New Zealand moved into second place, but will be overtaken if South Africa beat Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka, who won their first two matches, finished level on points with New Zealand but were eliminated on net run rate.

West Indies beat Pakistan in Group Two earlier Sunday in a result that ensured that England would qualify.

India will join them if they beat bottom team Ireland in Gqeberha on Monday.

If Ireland pull off an improbable win, Pakistan will have a slight chance of overtaking India if they beat England on Tuesday.

"It is a very important match for us," said Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof.

"We have played good cricket and we will try to continue that."

That New Zealand would still be in the reckoning seemed impossible when they lost heavily against Australia and South Africa.

But the White Ferns stormed back with an 81-run win against Bangladesh before turning on the power on Sunday, scoring 162 for three and then bowling out Sri Lanka for 60.

"We spoke about scoring 160 even though it was a tougher wicket than Newlands (in Cape Town)," said Devine.

That was achieved through half-centuries by Suzie Bates (56) and Amelia Kerr (66) after Bernadine Bezuidenhout set the tone with an aggressive 32 off 20 balls.

"We always knew 160 was going