Cricket: White Fern's march into World Cup semis

New Zealand's White Fern cricketers marched into the semifinals of the women's World Cup to the beat of captain Emily Drumm's blazing bat against South Africa in Christchurch yesterday.

Drumm carved an unbeaten 108 from 104 balls which set the White Ferns up for an imposing total of 265 for five. She scored more than South Africa mustered (107) as the White Ferns registered an emphatic 158-run victory at Lincoln Green.

The win sealed New Zealand's semifinal position in the Cricinfo-sponsored tournament and has put them at the top of the table with unbeaten Australia.

India and South Africa are the likely third and fourth finishers.

Drumm, 26, played an exhilarating innings in recording her second one-day century in three weeks after striking a career-best 116 against England in a build-up match.

Drumm's final 58 runs came from just 38 balls as she plundered the South Africa attack with crisp, stroke-play.

Rebecca Rolls ignited the innings, striking 44 from 36 balls.

Drumm then added 60 with Debbie Hockley, 34 with Paula Flannery and 82 with Haidee Tiffen, in the final nine overs. Tiffen smacked an unbeaten 35 from 24 balls.

The match became a no-contest once South Africa stumbled to five for three with Katrina Keenan making the early breakthrough and Rachel Pullar removing leading run-getter Daleen Terblanche cheaply.

Helen Watson tidied up the tail with three wickets.

The White Ferns have one round robin match remaining against England on Thursday.

In the other match played yesterday, India beating Ireland by 30 runs at Hagley Oval, recovering from three for four to reach 199 for nine in their 50 overs.