SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — Suzie Bates showcased her composure in a tense final over, guiding New Zealand to their first appearance in the Women’s T20 World Cup final in 14 years with an exciting eight-run triumph over West Indies on Friday.

In the semifinal match held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Bates, who bowled only one over, entered with the West Indies requiring 15 runs to secure victory. Despite conceding a boundary on her very first delivery, she bounced back with a wicket and limited the scoring to just two runs for the remainder of the over, ultimately closing the game in New Zealand’s favor.

Eden Carson was pivotal for New Zealand, claiming 3 wickets for 29 runs, while Amelia Kerr contributed significantly with figures of 2 wickets for 14 runs from her four overs. These efforts effectively curtailed the West Indies’ chase, leaving them at 120 runs for 8 wickets after their allotted 20 overs. Earlier, New Zealand had set a challenging target after being restricted to 128 runs for 9 wickets, thanks to a disciplined bowling performance from the 2016 champions, the West Indies.

New Zealand, who have previously finished as runners-up in this tournament in 2009 and 2010, are now gearing up to face South Africa in the final scheduled for Sunday in Dubai. This upcoming match promises to be particularly thrilling as one of these teams will emerge as first-time champions.

In the other semifinal, South Africa caused an upset by defeating the defending champions, Australia, by eight wickets, earning their spot in the final for the second consecutive time. The excitement surrounding the Women’s T20 World Cup final is palpable as fans eagerly await to witness which team will claim the prestigious title.