Australia wallop West Indies to emerge champs

February 18, 2013

Australia_wallop

Mumbai, Feb 18: Australia clinched their sixth Women's World Cup title after they comfortably defeated the West Indies by a huge margin of 114 runs in the final at the Brabourne Stadium here today.

Needing 260 to win, the Caribbeans were bundled out for 145 runs in 43.1 overs, miserably failing to recover from Elysse Perry's early three-wicket burst.

Batting first, Australia rode on Jessica Cameron's quick-fire 75 and a half-century by Rachael Haynes to post a challenging 259 for seven. Cameron's almost run-a-ball knock, which was studded with eight fours and two sixes, coupled with some lacklustre fielding by the Windies, allowed the five-time champions to record the highest ever total in a Women's World Cup final.

The previous best was 215 for four by the same side in 2005 against India. Australian pace spearhead Perry, who was back in the side after suffering an ankle injury, ripped through the West Indies top-order and had them reeling at 41 for three.

The pacer struggled to get her run up right twice for her first delivery but drew first blood when she trapped Kycia Knight leg before in the last ball of her first over.

She then struck in her second and third over to get rid off Stafanie Taylor and opener Natasha Mclean. Perry, who thought she had dismissed Taylor in the first ball of her second over when the ball just bounced before carrying to first slip fielder Meghann Lanning, struck three balls later.

Perry's figures after her first three overs read 3-2-2-3, and her devastating first spell ended with three wickets for eight runs in six overs. She was introduced two overs later when Deandra Dottin, known for her hitting prowess, was batting after Kyshona Knight retired hurt.

Offie Lisa Sthalekar castled captain Merissa Aguilleira (23) to break the fourth wicket partnership of 47 runs.

Aguilleira had hit two fours and a six in her brief knock. Dottin, who hit a four a two sixes in her 28-ball 22, was also bowled by the all-rounder.

After being reduced to 109 for five, things nosedived for the West Indies as they soon found themselves reeling at 114 for eight. Anisa Mohammed tried hard to fight back and shared a 27-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

Megan Schutt, who was the joint wicket taker earlier, became the bowler with most dismissals in the tournament with 15 wickets, after picking up two today.

Australia took home a prize money of USD 75,000 along with the distinction of being the top ranked team in the world, while runners up West Indies received USD 30,000.

Electing to bat, openers Meghann Lanning and Haynes provided a good start to Australia, putting on a 52-run stand, with the former being more aggressive of the two, striking six fours during her 31 off 41 balls. The right-hander perished at mid-off in the last ball of the 10th over.

Left-hander Haynes, who later forged a 64-run stand with Cameron, notched up 52 off 74 balls. Her 88-minute knock fetched her six boundaries.

The Caribbeans, who were otherwise sloppy on the field, managed to hold onto the catches at least. After sending back Haynes, the West Indies were quick to take the wicket of Alexandra Blackwell (3), who was playing her 100th ODI.

Australia, however, did not let West Indies take an upper hand as Cameron and Lisa Sthalekar consolidated the innings with a 55-run stand for the fourth wicket. Just as it seemed that the two were set for a long haul, Cameron was dismissed.

Australia, who had been cruising along, had a few hiccups as West Indies struck twice to dismiss Sthalekar and Sarah Coyte (7) to reduce them to 190 for six.

The Aussies couldn't utilise the power play overs, scoring only 15 runs, while losing three wickets. A late attack from Jodie Fields (36) and Perry (25) helped the side to reach a challenging total.

For the West Indies, Shaquana Quintyne was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 27.

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News Network
February 18,2020

Feb 18: Spinner Poonam Yadav claimed three wickets as India geared up for the ICC women's T20 World Cup with a thrilling two-run win over the West Indies in a low-scoring warm-up match in Brisbane on Tuesday. Electing to bat, India posted a lowly 107/8 in their stipulated 20 overs before returning to restrict the West Indies to 105/7. Chasing 108 to win, West Indies were comfortably placed at 57 for one in 13 overs when Deepti Sharma struck, cleaning up opener Lee-Ann Kirby (42) to trigger a collapse. Soon skipper Stafanie Taylor (16), Chedean Nation (0) and Deandra Dottin (1) were back in the hut as West Indies slipped to 67 for five in the 17th over.

Hayley Matthews (25) and Chinelle Henry (17) blasted three fours and a six in the 19th over to leave them with 11 to get off the last six balls.

Henry blasted Poonam for a four but the Indian dismissed Matthews in the fourth ball.

West Indies needed three runs off the last ball but Henry was caught by Veda Krishnamurthy.

Earlier, India's top-three failed to fire as they were reduced to 17 for three in 3.1 overs.

Opener Smriti Mandhana (4) lasted just six balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues (0) failed to open her account.

Young Shafali Verma blasted a couple of fours before being caught by Britney Cooper off Shamilia Connell (2/20).

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (11), too, didn't stay long, while Krishnamurthy was cleaned up by Afy Fletcher (1/26), as India slumped to 52 for five in 11.2 overs.

Deepti Sharma made a 32-ball 21 before becoming a victim of Anisa Mohammed (2/16), while Pooja Vastrakar (13) was removed by Aaliyah Alleyne (1/9).

Stafanie taylor then got rid of Taniya Bhatia for 10. Shikha Pandey finally smashed a 16-ball 24 to give some respectability to the total.

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News Network
March 7,2020

Melbourne, Mar 7: Ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup against Australia, India spinner Poonam Yadav said that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has given her a lot of support.

"Harmanpreet has been of immense support. When I got hit for a six in the first over, she came to me and said, 'Poonam, you're one of the most experienced players in the team, and we expect better of you'," Poonam said.

The 28-year-old experienced bowler has played 68 shortest format games for India and taken 94 wickets at an average of 22.66.

She has been in devastating form throughout the tournament and has bagged nine wickets so far.

"So, that kind of stirred something within me. I told myself if my captain has that much faith in me, I should be able to make a comeback," she said.

"I took a wicket in the very next ball, and didn't look back since. Now when I look back at that moment, it means so much in the context of my individual performance and run to the final," she added.

In the opening game against Australia at Sydney Showground, Poonam came within a whisker of the third hat-trick in Women's T20 World Cup history, dismissing Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry before Jess Jonassen was dropped.

The final of the tournament will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 8 -- International Women's Day.

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News Network
January 31,2020

Wellington, Jan 31: A nervous New Zealand threw it away yet again as a perseverant India prevailed in the Super Over for the second successive time to take a 4-0 lead in the T20 International series on Friday.

Needing just 11 runs off the last two overs with seven wickets in hand, New Zealand dug a hole for themselves yet again, taking the game to a Super Over two nights after doing the same in Hamilton.

New Zealand managed 13 runs in six balls and India got there effortlessly.

KL Rahul smashed 10 runs off the first two balls before he was caught. Then, a fired-up Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson finished the game in style.

Earlier, Manish Pandey proved his value to the team with an unbeaten 50 off 35 balls, taking India to 165 for eight from 88 for six in the 12th over.

India's total wasn't enough considering the batting-friendly conditions but the hosts made life a lot tougher for themselves from a commanding position before succumbing to pressure.

The entertaining knocks from Colin Munro (64 off 47) and Time Seifert went in vain (57 off 39).

Mohammed Shami, who was rested on Friday, had bowled a brilliant 20th over on Wednesday and man of the match Shardul Thakur was up to the task this time, conceding just six runs when the opposition needed seven for victory.

With the series already in the bag, India gave opportunity to Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini for the first time in the five-match series, resting Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Shami. However, none of them was able to make an impact in the game.

Chasing 165, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill early. But Munro and Seifert put on 74 runs for the second wicket to put themselves on track.

Munro scored a half-century of 38 deliveries, inclusive of six fours and three sixes. He was out against the run of play as Kohli's direct hit surprisingly found the target after a relay throw from the deep.

It was the turning point as New Zealand lost regular wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled Tom Bruce (0), but Seifert found a partner in Ross Taylor as they pushed the score past 150 in the 18th over.

Seifert scored a half-century off 32 balls, including four fours and three sixes. But the great choke was yet to come again. Needing 18 off 18, the Black Caps lost four wickets in the last over bowled by Thakur.

Taylor holed out of the first ball, while Seifert was run out two balls later. Daryl Mitchell (4) was caught next and Mitchell Santner (2) couldn't steal two runs off the last ball as the sides engaged in a tie-breaker for the second game running.

This was after New Zealand won a fourth consecutive toss and opted to field. Kane Williamson didn't take part in the match owing to a shoulder niggle.

Tim Southee was the stand-in skipper, with the Black Caps making two changes.

Put in to bat, the visitors were struggling at 88-6 at one stage before Pandey's lonesome rescue act took them to a respectable total. KL Rahul contributed 39 runs off 26 balls, inclusive of three sixes and two fours.

Leg spinner Ish Sodhi got into the act and ran through India's batting order. First to go was Shreyas Iyer (1) and then Shivam Dube (12) was caught at mid-wicket.

Sodhi finished with 3-26 while Santner dismissed Sundar for nought as the New Zealand spinners rounded up a good outing with 4-54 in eight overs.

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