Australia have retained the Women's World T20 trophy with a 4-run win
over England in Colombo. Australia, who won the 2010 tournament in the
Caribbean, impressed with the bat, with the ball and in the field to
inflict just England's second defeat in 25 completed T20 internationals.
While England's record over the last 18 months or so has been excellent,
they looked nervous in this game. Australia were on top throughout.
Having set a challenging total, they bowled with discipline and just
about held their nerve as England, as their run chase became
increasingly desperate, fell to a series of catches in the deep.
Full report to follow
England will have to score 143 to win the Women's World T20 final
against Australia in Colombo. They have only successfully chased such a
target three times in their 63 match T20 history, though the fact that
one of those successes came against Australia earlier in this tournament
will provide some encouragement. On that occasion, England overhauled
the 145 they were set in Galle with 11 balls to spare.
Perhaps it was big-match nerves, or perhaps it was a reaction to an
impressive display of batting from Australia, but England's bowlers and
fielders were unable to maintain the consistency they had demonstrated
in the earlier rounds. Having won the toss and given Australia first use
of a fine batting surface, the England bowlers, usually so reliable,
donated eight wides and a no-ball and struggled to contain them.
Most of all, however, the Australia top order of Meg Lanning, Alyssa
Healy and Jess Cameron batted with skill and invention to build the
foundations for a challenging total. The openers put on 51 in just 41
balls, while Cameron and Lisa Sthalekar also added 51 for the
third-wicket in 36 balls.
Although only four came from the first over, with Lanning cutting
Katherine Brunt for a four, it was the third over that kickstarted their
innings. Brunt's second over contained a front foot no-ball and cost 16
as Lanning drove both the no-ball and the subsequent free-hit for four
and Alyssa Healy pulled another boundary.
Lanning maintained the momentum by sweeping Danielle Hazell for four,
while Healy drove Wyatt through the covers for another boundary. Healey
also pulled Anya Shrubsole to the boundary as Australia reached 47-0
after their six Powerplay overs.
The introduction of Holly Colvin's left-arm spin brought the
breakthrough. Lanning, attempting to hit over the top, could only clip a
return catch to the bowler while Laura Marsh, the fourth spinner
introduced into the attack by the eighth over of the innings, might have
had Healy caught at deep square leg but saw her pull shot drop just
short of Shurbsole. At the halfway stage of their innings, Australia
were 68-1.
Cameron was soon into her stride. Having swept Marsh to the boundary,
she then skipped down the pitch to drive her for another. While Healy
was bowled after missing an attempted pull, Cameron, whose innings of 45
from 34 deliveries, brought up the 100 with a very well executed
reverse sweep for four off Marsh, before slog-sweeping Shrubsole for
six, then ramping and pulling her for fours in an over that cost 17.
While Colvin, the pick of the bowlers, had Cameron taken at long-on,
Alex Blackwell swept another four off Wyatt and, in partnership with
Sthalekar, picked up the ones and twos as Australia set a challenging
total.
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