Fighting Windies women go under

Australia held their nerve, restricting West Indies to five runs in the final over, with 14 needed for victory, as the Caribbean women fell short by eight runs in their semifinal clash at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, yesterday.

Chasing 141 runs for victory, West Indies needed 21 runs from the last two overs but big hitter Deandra Dottin fell in the process and the chase fizzled out. 

With the West Indies men’s team on the boundary edge urging them on, the West Indies entered the final over bowled by Rene Farrell needing 14 runs. They lost skipper Merrisa Aguilierra as she and Stacy Ann King could only manage singles. Australia will now move on to the championship match where they will defend their title.

West Indies got off to a good start with Kycia Knight and Stephanie Taylor posting 43 runs for the first wicket off 7.1 overs. Both fell quickly with Taylor run out for 24 off 25 balls, and Knight making 21 off 26 balls. 

King and Dottin brought West Indies back into the contest, taking the score to 121 in a partnership of 73 runs from 67 balls. 

However, Dottin holed out to Erin Osbourne on the midwicket fence for 40, and the West Indies momentum crashed. Dottin faced 35 balls and struck four fours and a six. King stayed to the end remaining unbeaten on 36 off 28 balls with four fours and a six.

Earlier, West Indies maintained a stranglehold on the normally free-scoring Aussies and had them 92 for five in the 16th over. 

However, Alyssa Healy, niece of former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy, hammered an unbeaten 30 off just 21 balls with four fours, to give the Australian score some respectability. Elyse Villani at the top of the order topscored with 35 off 32 balls including seven hits to the fence. 

Pick of the West Indies bowlers was Anisa Mohammed who grabbed 2/24, while Taylor took 1/19 off her four overs.

Disappointed West Indies captain Aguilleira said she was proud of her team’s effort. “We came to the semifinal and the girls did very well. We had a good tour of New Zealand before this. The hope was always there, we went out there and we only fell eight short. Australia played a great match. It was a really good experience, especially playing in Sylhet. 

“Hopefully we can keep our run continuing. We know the flag is still flying high with the men’s team and we are going to stay back to support them.” (VM) 

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SCOREBOARD

WI vs Australia 

Australia inns
E Villani c Kycia Knight b Mohammed    35
J Jonassen run out    5
M Lanning b Smartt    29
E Perry c&b Taylor    8
A blackwell not out    13
J Cameron lbw Mohammed    5
A Healy not out    30
Extras b4, lb2, w7, nb2    15
Total 5 wkts, (20ovs)    140
Fall of wkts: 32, 48, 78, 83, 92.
Bowling: T Smartt 4-0-28-1, S Daley 3-0-22-0, S Quintyne 4-0-29-0, A Mohammed 4-0-24-2, S Taylor 4-0-19-1, S Selman 1-0-12-0.

WI inns
K Knight b Osborne    21
S Taylor run out    25
D Dottin c Osborne b Coyte    40
S King not out    36
M Aguilleira c Jonassen b Farrell    6
S Campbelle not out    1
Extras lb1, w3    4
Total 4 wkts (20)    132
Fall of wkts: 43, 48, 121, 130.
Bowling: R Farrell 3-0-25-1, J Jonassen 3-0-14-0, S Coyte 4-0-28-1, j Hunter 3-0-25-0, E Perry 3-0-21-0, E Osbourne 4-0-18-1.
Result: Australia won by eight runs.