A spirited West Indies women's side claim
an eight-run victory over Australia at the ICC Women's World Cup India 2013
today to safe itself a spot in the final of the event for the first time in its
40-year history, it is also the first time West Indies has beaten Australia in
an ODI. The two team will face-off again at the Brabourne Stadium on 17
February in a day-night match that will be broadcast round the globe in High meaning
by the ICC's Broadcast Partner Star Sports.
The victory by West Indies income
that New Zealand and current champion England, currently playing in a day/night
fixture at CCI, are not able to make the final and the two sides will get
together again on 15 February to fight it out in the third-place play-off and a
new universal ranking.
Meanwhile in Cuttack, Dane van
Niekerk starred with the bat and ball to ensure South Africa finished the Super
Six stage with a 110-run win over Sri Lanka. The two sides will meet once more
on Friday in the fifth-place play-off which, no matter the result, will see
both sides finish the contest ranked higher than they entered the event.
At the MIG Ground, have won the toss
Merissa Aguilleira elected to bat against Australia and the side was dismiss
for 164 before squeezing the Australian batting with some tight bowling to send
away the finalists for 156 to complete a historic win. It was West Indies'
first ever win over Australia in an ODI fixture and in return Australia's first
loss of the ICC Women's World Cup 2013.
West Indies batting proved to be
inconsistent, at one point, the side was reeling at 7-92 in the 25th over, previous
to all-rounder Deandra Dottin, demoted to number seven for today's game,
propped up the bat attack with a dazzling 60 runs, including ten fours and a
six to help West Indies reach 164.
The Australian bowling attack once
again proved disciplined, bowling good line and lengths to keep the side in make
sure and star bowlers, Holly Ferling (3-27) and Megan Schutt (3-50) were the pick
of the Southern Stars team.
Australia looked likely to secure
victory, when in the 39th over it was 130-4 but all went wrong for the current
ICC Women's World Twenty champions when it lost its last six wickets for just
26 runs. Australia was in problem early, losing stylish opener Meg Lanning,
bowled by left-arm spinner Shanel Daley. Lanning's opening partner Rachael
Haynes was next out by means of the score at 32. Jess Cameron and Lisa
Sthalekar attempted to stabalise the innings but it was up to captain and
vice-captain, Jodie Fields and Alex Blackwell, to try and resurrect the innings
with a 41-run partnership.
But Blackwell's dismissal for 45
triggered a mini collapse as the side lost three wickets for one run. The lower
order unsuccessful to provide the required runs, with two run-outs and thus
helping the West Indies secure itself a place in the ICC Women's World Cup
final for the first time.
Aguillera was elated after the win:
"Words cannot express what I am feeling right now. I am completely
overwhelmed. We have been from side to side a lot as a team. Our bowlers did a unbelievable
job today. I felt some panic happening in their camp and I think that's the
time we started to assault them more. We realised that as long as we were
bowling in correct areas, we will get wickets and that's exactly what
happened."
While all the batters generally
struggled on the slow wicket, Player of the Match Dottin was the only one who
was able to break the shackles and play freely. "Deandra has a natural
ability to caress the ball well. It's a God-given talent. She is using it well,
but she is not using it enough though," admitted Aguillera.
Australia captain Fields was
disappointed with the first loss of the tournament. "I don't think it's
ever good to have a loss. We came out today to win the match. We wanted to go
through the contest undefeated, but credit to the West Indies. They played well
today. We have to go away now and focus on training. We are going to play them
in the final. At least we got a chance to look at what they are doing in their
game and hopefully it be supposed to help us in the final," said Fields.
Australia lost three wickets to
run-outs in the chase, but Fields did not think it was something to be concerned
about going into the final. "We lost couple of wickets to
running between the wickets. But I am
happy to see the girls be optimistic. We had to score runs and a little bit you
have to take risks and to West Indies' credit, they got some run outs. It is
something we determination go away and work on before the finals."
In Cuttack, Dane van Niekerk's
all-round performance helped South Africa beat Sri Lanka by a massive 110-runs
margin in its final Super Six match at the Barabati Stadium on Wednesday.
This match was a dress practice to
the fifth place play-off match between the two sides, which will be played at
the same earth on Friday, 15 February.
Sri Lanka's regular captain,
Shashikala Siriwardena, did not feature in the game owing to illness and
Sandamali Dolawatta led the side in her absence.
Asked to bat, South Africa posted 227
for eight in its 50 overs and in its reply Sri Lanka was shot out for just 117
in 36.4 overs.
Earlier, former captain Cri-Zelda
Brits (52: 69b, 4x4, 3x6) and Shandre Fritz (64: 71b, 10x4) added 70 runs for
the fourth wicket to guide South Africa to a strong position. Some late-order thrive
from van Niekerk (40 off 38 balls) helped South Africa to finish on a high.
For Sri Lanka, Chamani Seneviratna
was the most excellent bowler on view with figures of three for 44.
In its response, Sri Lanka lost
wickets at regular intervals. Except for Chamari Atapattu (63: 74, 9x4) and captain
Dolawatta (21) none of the other batters made any contributions. Atapattu and
Dolawatta added 61 runs for the fourth wicket, which was the only highlight of
the innings.
For South Africa, van Niekerk was the
best wicket-taker with four for 18 which also fetched herthe player of the
match award. Pace bowler, Shabnim Ismail who has had a good contest for the
Protea ladies picked up two for 22 to help the side to victory.
"I think the bowlers conceded a little too many, 230 was a toughscore and while we
batted except for Atapattu no one contributed, that is where we lost it. I
think it was important for the openers to play at smallest amount 15 overs and
set the platform, but once that didn't occur we just lost our way completely.
"We didn't adjust quickly to
this wicket here in Cuttack because it was the first time we were playing here,
but I am confident we can bounce back in the play-off. There was nothing wrong
with the pitch truthfully, we played some poor strokes," said a
disappointed Dolawatta.
South Africa captain du Preez was
delighted with her squad's performance. "I think if we could have come up
with this kind of presentation earlier, we could have fought for the
third/fourth final tournament, but then the girls played brilliantly today. Hats
off to them," said du Preez.
Despite the win, du Preez felt the gap
partnership was a cause for concern for her side and wished for better income
on Friday.
"I think our problem has been
that we've been struggling to obtain a foundation upfront and that happen once
again, so we had to consolidate (mid-way). Today it was a little damp because
of the overcast conditions, so we wanted to just give ourselves a chance to use
time in the middle. We knew if we did that we could catch up towards the end
and we did," added du Preez.
Player of the match van Niekerk
explained how she has been able to grow as a player. "Initially I began as
a bowler, but now my position is that of an all-rounder and I see myself as
someone who can bat anywhere required.
"The team needed me to bat at
six today and I was prepared for it and it came off well. I'm a naturally
aggressive batter, obviously with short boundaries on one end, I just tried to
pick that side of the ground and it came off superbly,"' said van Niekerk.
A round-up of the current match sandwiched
between New Zealand and England will be released later this evening, once the
match has concluded.
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