Defending champions New Zealand kept alive their dying campaign by the skin of their teeth, pulling off a heart-stopping four-run victory over a heartbroken Ireland in a last-ball thriller on Saturday.Having shot themselves in the foot with ten dropped catches across humiliating opening defeats to West Indies and Sri Lanka, the winless White Ferns walked into the contest staring down the barrel of an early exit. It took a vintage, nerves-of-steel performance from retiring veteran Suzie Bates to keep their slim semi-final hopes alive.Bates, who only made the XI after another veteran Sophie Devine fell ill, turned out to be the ultimate savior. Walking out at No. 7 for the first time in her storied T20I career, she smashed a crucial 12-ball 19. Her last-ball six over long leg propelled New Zealand from a catastrophic 10 for 3 to a fighting 140 for 6. Earlier, stand-in skipper Melie Kerr (30) and a gritty 62-run stand between Brooke Halliday and Izzy Sharp rescued the faltering innings.Ireland, searching for an elusive, historic first-ever World Cup win after 19 successive defeats, looked destined to script a famous upset. Despite a stellar, restrictive spell from Kiwi pacer Bree Illing (1/18), Irish captain Gaby Lewis (58) and Orla Prendergast (59) put on a masterclass. The duo stitched a monumental 110-run partnership, taking Ireland to the cusp of glory into the 18th over.However, the agonizing weight of history caught up with the Girls in Green. Prendergast was holed out near the boundary, and a shifting 19th over saw skipper Lewis give a catch to Bates at cover.With 15 needed off the final over, stand-in skipper Kerr threw the ball to the experienced Bates. Showing composure, the veteran conceded a mere 10 runs, restricting Ireland to 136 for 4.“Today was just about body language and turning up,” a relieved Player of the Match Melie Kerr said post-match. “We need to believe we can still win games of cricket.”
