New Zealand Women vs Ireland Women, 13th Match, Group B, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 - CommentaryNZW vs IREW, 13th Match, Group B, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

Suzie Bates to Louise Little, 1 run, New Zealand have pulled off heist. They win by 4 runs. No big celebrations from them because they know it wasn't their best game but good enough to keep them alive in the competition. Ireland look stunned. They were ahead of the game for most parts but just could not finish it. But what about Bates? Overlooked for the first two games, only called in because Devine fell sick this morning and she has delivered with bat and ball. Coming to the ball: Darted across off, Little can only drive it to long-off

Rosemary Mair to Gaby Lewis, out Caught by Suzie Bates!! Oh no! This is a massive wicket. The well-set Lewis is back on her way to the dugout. New Zealand are thrilled and even the calm Bates is pumped, she does a double fist pump after completing the catch. Slower ball outside off, Lewis comes down the track and has to reach for it, she miscues it straight up and the ball flies over extra cover. Bates takes a few steps back and manages to hang on. Not an easy catch but the veteran did well to cling on even after tumbling on her back. An excellent knock from the Ireland skipper comes to an end. She won't be there to take her side over the line. Gaby Lewis c Suzie Bates b Rosemary Mair 58(53) [4s-6]

Amelia Kerr to Orla Prendergast, out Caught by Maddy Green!! The partnership is broken. New Zealand needed that and they are right back in the contest. Look at the reactions from Kerr and Green. They know the importance of this wicket. The pair roar in delight. Flighted delivery, Prendergast sits down and connects decently with the slog sweep, but she cannot clear the deep mid-wicket fence, Green steadies herself well in from the rope and takes it safely. That was a pressure catch and she took it calmly. A fine knock from Prendergast comes to an end. Orla Prendergast c Maddy Green b Amelia Kerr 59(53) [4s-5 6s-1]

Amelia Kerr to Orla Prendergast, out Caught by Maddy Green!! The partnership is broken. New Zealand needed that and they are right back in the contest. Look at the reactions from Kerr and Green. They know the importance of this wicket. The pair roar in delight. Flighted delivery, Prendergast sits down and connects decently with the slog sweep, but she cannot clear the deep mid-wicket fence, Green steadies herself well in from the rope and takes it safely. That was a pressure catch and she took it calmly. A fine knock from Prendergast comes to an end. Orla Prendergast c Maddy Green b Amelia Kerr 59(53) [4s-5 6s-1]

Rosemary Mair to Gaby Lewis, 1 run, fifty for Lewis. She raises her bat and acknowledges the applause. The skipper is leading from the front. Can she take them over the line? Low full toss on leg, Lewis closes the bat face and the leading-edge rolls to long-on

Jess Kerr to Orla Prendergast, 2 runs, fifty for Prendergast. What a game she's having! Wickets with the ball, catches in the field and now a crucial fifty. The entire Ireland unit are on their feet applauding. But the job is not done yet and she knows it, no big celebration or anything, just a handshake with skipper Lewis. Coming to the ball: Slanted into the pads, Prendergast works it with soft hands towards square leg and the pair race back for the second

Jess Kerr to Orla Prendergast, 2 runs, fifty for Prendergast. What a game she's having! Wickets with the ball, catches in the field and now a crucial fifty. The entire Ireland unit are on their feet applauding. But the job is not done yet and she knows it, no big celebration or anything, just a handshake with skipper Lewis. Coming to the ball: Slanted into the pads, Prendergast works it with soft hands towards square leg and the pair race back for the second

Amelia Kerr to Orla Prendergast, SIX, that's huge. Kerr drags it short and Prendergast puts it away. She rocks back, gets under the pull and nails it towards deep mid-wicket. The power takes it all the way..

Bree Illing to Orla Prendergast, FOUR, the much needed boundary, just a hint of width, slightly shorter on middle, Prendergast picks the length early and pulls it in the gap to deep square leg, good positive intent from Ireland!

Bree Illing to Amy Hunter, out Bowled!! Sentational delivery, you couldn't do anything about it, much needed breakthrough for the Kiwis, this one was full on off and swinging in, right up in the block hole, Hunter plays down the wrong line, the ball sneaks through to crash into the middle and off stump, early breakthrough, much needed. Amy Hunter b Bree Illing 2(3)

Orla Prendergast to Suzie Bates, SIX, New Zealand reach 140. Bates finishes the innings off with a maximum. Short of length outside off, Bates shuffles inside the line and nails the pull backward of square. She falls to the ground but the ball sails over the rope

Arlene Kelly to Suzie Bates, FOUR, much needed boundary for New Zealand. It has been a while since they got one. Bates stays in the crease, crouches low and reverse swats it over short third. She middled that and the ball raced away..

Cara Murray to Brooke Halliday, out Caught by Lara McBride!! The partnership has been broken. Murray has her second wicket. New Zealand needed to get a move on as it had been 21 balls since the last boundary, Halliday attempts the sweep and perishes in the process. She gets a top-edge and the ball lobs towards short fine, McBride takes a simple catch. Brooke Halliday c Lara McBride b Cara Murray 34(37) [4s-2]

Aimee Maguire to Izzy Sharp, FOUR, good over for New Zealand - 13 runs. Floated up outside off and Sharp's eyes light up, she lofts it down the ground and Prendergast runs in to take the catch, but the ball lands in front of her and escapes past her to the fence

Cara Murray to Amelia Kerr, out Caught by Louise Little!! Murray takes out the big fish, tossed up generously on off, luring her for the false shot, Kerr gets down to sweep, but miscues it completely in the air towards deep midwicket, where Little takes a comfortable catch, New Zealand are losing the plot here. Amelia Kerr c Louise Little b Cara Murray 30(24) [4s-4]

Arlene Kelly to Amelia Kerr, FOUR, now she finds the gap on the off side, trifle short and outside off, Kerr quickly moves back, gets on top of the ball and cuts it away to sweeper cover

Aimee Maguire to Georgia Plimmer, out Caught by Arlene Kelly!! She has holed out, poor shot from Plimmer, nicely tossed up outside off, Plimmer comes down the track, didn't get to the pitch of the ball and miscues it straight into the hands of Kelly at mid off, New Zealand wanted a steady start at the top, but she's perished early. Georgia Plimmer c Arlene Kelly b Aimee Maguire 4(4) [4s-1]

Aimee Maguire to Georgia Plimmer, out Caught by Arlene Kelly!! She has holed out, poor shot from Plimmer, nicely tossed up outside off, Plimmer comes down the track, didn't get to the pitch of the ball and miscues it straight into the hands of Kelly at mid off, New Zealand wanted a steady start at the top, but she's perished early. Georgia Plimmer c Arlene Kelly b Aimee Maguire 4(4) [4s-1]

Match Forecast: Women's T20 WC - NZ W vs IRE W, 13th Match