As Southampton has witnessed an absolute cliffhanger New Zealand Women past an elastic Irish Women 2. With only 4 runs in the 13th match of the group ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. In a day-night thriller that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, the White Ferns successfully defended a modest total thanks to an exemplary all-round display from the captain. Amelia Kerr. The narrow victory dramatically shakes up the Group 2 standings, keeping New Zealand’s knockout ambitions intensely alive.
Amelia Kerr and Izzy Sharp propel New Zealand to a huge total
Electing to bat first, New Zealand’s innings got off to a disastrous start. Ireland’s bowling attack is leading the way Orla Prendergast and Aimee Maguirehe reached the top order, reducing the White Ferns to a dangerous 10 for 3 in the first 20 balls. Georgia Plimmer only fell to 4, followed immediately Isabella Review (13) and Maddy Green (2).
captain Amelia Kerr then took responsibility by stabilizing the ship, which sank 24 supplies with more than 30 counter-attacks tied by three bounds. After Kerr was dismissed at 48/4, Brooke Halliday he closed one end with 34 of 37 balls. However, the real change of pace came from the youth Izzy Sharp. Injected desperate urgency into the back half of the sharp innings, he struck 36 off 28 balls which included four boundaries.
The veteran’s last shot Suzie Bates (19* off 12 balls) pushed New Zealand to 140/6 at the end of 20 overs. Murray Way and Prendergast were the pick of the Irish bowlers, taking two wickets each.
Ireland are slightly behind as New Zealand defend their total
Chasing 141 for a historic World Cup victory, Ireland’s chase got off to a poor start in the first game. Amy Hunter cleared early by Bree Illing for 23. But later there was a magnificent 110-run partnership between the captain. Gaby Lewis and Prendergast took the game completely away from New Zealand for the bulk of the second innings.
Both shells produced magnificent, identical half-centuries under pressure. Prendergast hit 54 off 59 off 53 balls, hitting five fours and a maximum, while Lewis made a quiet 58 off 53 balls. At 116/1 in the 18th over, Ireland looked all but on course for a comfortable victory.
Enter Amelia Kerr. With the game slipping away, the Kiwi captain went on the attack again and turned the match on its head. In the space of three deliveries, Kerr removed the dangerous Prendergast and followed it up by dismissing him Rebecca Stockell for the duck.
With pressure mounting, Rosemary Mair In the next game, he dismissed a well-set Gaby Lewis. Needing to maintain a tight lead in the final, the New Zealand bowling team held their nerve perfectly. Jess Kerr and Illing (1 for 18) drained the boundaries, left Louise Little (5*) and Lea Paul (8*) Ireland are agonizingly behind at 136/4. Kerr ended with match-winning figures of 2 for 23 and deservedly won the Man of the Match award.
A nail biter as New Zealand won by 4 runs 🤝#T20WorldCup #ZvIRE pic.twitter.com/6Un2qJKo2l
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) June 20, 2026
This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
