Georgia Plimmer of New Zealand playing a shot during the New Zealand White Ferns v Sri Lanka Women, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Pool A match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, UAE on Saturday 12 October 2024. Photo credit: Isuru Sameera Peiris / www.photosport.nz Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz
A milestone innings from opener Georgia Plimmer set the White Ferns up for their second win at the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand kept its semi-final hopes alive with an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Sunday morning (NZT).
The 20-year-old Wellingtonian scored 53 off 44 balls for her maiden T20 World Cup half-century, as New Zealand chased down 112 for victory with 15 balls to spare.
White Ferns captain Sophie Devine said Plimmer led the charge, with Amelia Kerr chipping in with 34 not out, after taking two for 13 with the ball.
Plimmer backed her skills to accumulate the runs, adding four boundaries.
"She's probably copped a fair bit of criticism, which as a captain it's pretty hard to see that," Devine told SkySport.
"You've got to remember that Georgia's only 20, so she's got a really bright future ahead of her. If she can continue to do what she did today, she's going to have a really outstanding career."
Unbeaten Australia have all but secured a semifinal berth in group A, with New Zealand and India vying for the remaining spot.
Pakistan, on the other hand, have an extremely slim chance of making it through.
Devine says the team will keep an eye out for how results play out in the key match between the in-form Australia and India.
They will go into their final group match against Pakistan on Tuesday knowing what was required.
"By that point I think we'll know exactly where we stand," Devine said.
The White Ferns have won two matches and lost one to be third in group A.
New Zealand is equal on points with India, but behind on runs differential.