MUMBAI, Dec 23: New Zealand took their expected place in the semifinals of the Hero Honda Sixth Women's World Cup cricket tournament, beating Ireland by 139 runs at the Wankhede Stadium today.

But even if Ireland lost, a valiant last-wicket partnership of 34 runs took the Irish respectably past the 100-run mark after they had lost their ninth wicket at 71.

The 35-year-old opener Debbie Hockley, with two centuries in the tournament already, and over 1000 runs in World Cup competition, was the eve of the match for her 70 (133 minutes, 116 balls, 6x4). She shared 121 for the opening wicket with Emily Drumm (60, 94m, 84b, 7x4) to lay the foundation for a comfortable New Zealand total after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

Hockley added another 54 with Shelly Fruin, her former opening partner but playing at number three in this tournament, before she decided to chance her arm against 16-year-old Clare Shillington. Her lofted shot was misjudged by Caitriona Beggs but an attempted pull was flawlessly taken by Barbara McDonald the next ball.

Off-spinner Clare Nicholson, opening the bowling for New Zealand, had Beggs caught behind by wicket keeper Rebecca Rolls off her fourth delivery to set the ball rolling for the Kiwis. Wickets fell regularly till last pair Tracey Skoyles and Adele Spence decided to show some Irish grit.

The two battled for 13 overs, Spence the more aggressive with three boundaries, to deny New Zealand that extra satisfaction of bowling the opposition out which prompted the Kiwi captain Maia Lewis to say that they needed more consistency in bowling.

Lewis, however, believes her unbeaten side will have the upperhand over England who they play in the semifinals. England had lost to Australia in a Group A league encounter. The Kiwis also have the confidence of having beaten England in all three matches they played last summer.

The Kiwis fielded brilliantly, pecking at anything that was near reach. Barbara McDonald tried Sara McLauchlan's arm which, unfortunately for her, was bang on target from short mid-wicket. Kelly Brown flew to take a one-handed catch off her own bowling but the ball spilled out as she fell and Skoyles survived.

While the Kiwis travel to Chennai for their semifinal, the Irish make their way to Calcutta for a week-long vacation till the tournament final.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND: Debbie Hockley c McDonald b Shillington 70, Emily Drumm lbw Beggs 60, Shelly Fruin lbw McDonald 33, Katrina Withers not out 32, Maia Lewis not out 14. Extras (b 5, lb 8, w 21, nb 1): 35. Total: (for three wickets in 50 overs): 244
Fall of wickets: 1-121, 2-175, 3-213
Bowling: Barbara McDonald 10-0-51-1, Catherine O'Neill 10-2-36-0, Caitriona Beggs 10-0-47-1, Adele Spence 10-0-51-0, Clare Shillington 8-3-33-1, Miriam Grealey 2-0-13-0
IRELAND: Caitriona Beggs c Rolls b Nicholson 1, Barbara McDonald run out (McLauchlan) 14, Miriam Grealey c Drumm b Brown 9, Nikki Squire c Hockley b Ramel 16, Catherine O'Neill lbw Brown 5, Clare O'Leary c Lewis b Ramel 6, Sandra Dawson b Withers 1, Grainne Leahy st Rolls b McLauchlan 8, Clare Shillington run out (Lewis) 0, Tracey Skoyles not out 7, Adele Spence not out 18. Extras (lb4, w13, nb3) 20. Total (for nine wickets in 50 overs): 105
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-25, 3-25, 4-35, 5-57, 6-59, 7-67, 8-70, 9-71
Bowling: Katrina Withers 8-2-14-1, Clare Nicholson 7-4-13-1, Kelly Brown 9-5-12-2, Catherine Campbell 6-2-15-0, Kathryn Ramel 8-0-26-2, Debbie Hockley 4-2-6-0, Sara Mclauchlan 8-3-15-1

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.