McGlashan sets up New Zealand-Australia final

CRICKET: GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia, May 15: Sara McGlashan saw New Zealand into the final of the women's World Twenty20 against arch-rivals Australia as her superb innings of 84 set up a 56-run over the West Indies here on Friday.

McGlashan's innings was the cornerstone of the White Ferns' 180 for five, the highest total of this tournament so far.

In reply, the West Indies chaseed gamely but were held to 124 for eight.

Now New Zealand, last year's losing finalists against England at Lord's will face Australia - a side they've beaten six times in a row - in Sunday's final at Barbados's Kensington Oval.

The destiny of the match was far from certain when New Zealand were 49 for two but a strand of 93 at nearly 11 an over between McGlashan and Sophie Devine took the game away from the home side.

McGlashan, whose brother Peter has played for the New Zealand men's team, faced just 55 balls with two superb straight sixes and six fours. The hosts rang the changes with their bowlers but it made little difference and it seemed McGlashan might join West Indies' Deandra Dottin in scoring a century at this tournament until she was run out by Shakera Selman's direct hit from short third man.

West Indies, coached by former Test batsman Sherwin Campbell, made a bold start under the Beausejour floodlightrs with Stafanie Taylor in fine form as she struck two sixes off leg-spinner Erin Bermingham to the delight of home fans.

But Cordel Jack fell when she pulled medium-pacer Nicola Browne to midwicket and Taylor was run out by McGlashan for 40, made at better than a run-a-ball.

The West Indies' collapse continued when teenage sensation Dottin fell for just one, caught by wicketkeeper Rachel Priest off Browne.

That left the home team 76 for four and there was no way back, with Kiwi captain Aimee Watkins benefiting from some desperation shotmaking as the off-spinner finished with figures of three wickets for 26 runs.