As the curtains are drawing over the 9th International World Cup Twenty20 tournament, we give a closer look at the Women’s version of the gentleman’s game. The home team bid a quick farewell to the tournament in the group league under the captaincy of the fearsome Mithali Raj as they couldn’t sustain to the mighty and the cool west-indies girls. India who was already showing inconsistency in all the three department of the game succumbed to a three run loss to the West Indies in the Bindra Stadium in Mohali in front of quite a decent support. The First Semi-Final: Australia Vs England Two power-houses of Women’s cricket faced off on Wednesday at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. Ashes rivals and finalists in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2014, England women and Australia women locked horns in the 2016 edition, eying for another crack at the trophy they both have held before. While England were the inaugural winners in the 2009 edition, Australia have been three times champion since then. As fortunate as the Australians seems to be against the England team, Aussies derailed England for the third consecutive times in the world T20 tournament. It was not quite as clear-cut as the strong versus the weak. Both sides were found wanting in their first 10 over in the field. England bowled a touch too wide to Lanning, whose classy half century- her second of the tournament came about through some high class shots through the off-side. Australia too were wayward with the ball but in Megan Schutt, they have an inswinging bowler with fire in her eyes and ice in her veins whose spells, ultimately, settled the encounter. It was a familiar tale for England as they fumbled in a tight run chase and couldn’t keep their nerves in control and made some poor decisions. Edwards and Tammy Beaumont had got the chase of 133 to perfect start. Their partnership had flourished very well in this tournament. The powerplay saw only 40 runs scored between them with only four boundaries being chipped. But then Beaumont fell for a deserving wicket to Schutt and the equation had then probably tipped in Aussie's favor with 42 needed from the final 30 balls. Heather Knight used up six balls to score only one run, before Vilani caught her at the second attempt at long off. Katherine Brunt threatened to give the game another twist with a six and a four from her five balls. But when Schutt returned to castle her and then effect a brilliant run-out of Jenny Gunn, the game was done and England were heading home and Australia would fly to Kolkata for their fourth World T20 in a row. The Second Semifinal: West Indies vs New ZealandNew Zealand suffered a loss similar to their fellow players of the opposite gender in the semi-finals of the tournament. New Zealand fell six run short in second semi-final after Cooper’s 61 drove the Caribbean ladies side to 143 for 6. Britney Cooper’s stroke filled 48 ball 61 and a superb all round display from Stafanie Taylor provided West Indies Women with the inspiration for a six run victory over New Zealand women, as they reached the final stage of the tournament for the first time after three consecutive semi-final defeat. Having made 143-6 in the allotted overs at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, Indies kept their composure well enough to stymie New Zealand at every critical juncture. Shamilia Connell gave West Indies the perfect start with the ball, pegging back Rachel Priest’s off-stump in her second over but both Rachel Priest and Deandra Dottin offered too much width, and Sophie Devine cashed in with carves and cuts either side of point. When Taylor introduced the leg spin of Hayley Matthews, Suzie Bates stroked one through cover. With 42 coming from the power play, New Zealand were well on course but one over from Afy Fletcher titled the balance. First Devine, who made 22 from just 14 balls, was run out by Deandra Dottin’s direct hit from the point and then Bates miscued one to mid-off, New Zealand had slipped to 49 for 3. Sara McGlashan and Amy Sattherwaite rebuilt, scampering singles and the odd two, but the boundaries proved frustratingly elusive. They had 70 on board at halfway, but only 18 came from the next four overs as Fletcher, Taylor and Dottin applied the tourniquet. New Zealand needed 19 from the last over, bowled by Dottin, and never looked like getting them. Despite being gifted two wides and a four when Stacy - Ann King dropped Bermingham and fumbled the ball over the rope. Cooper proved she was in total mood today when she lofted various drives over the covers against Kasperek, the tournament’s leading wicket taker. Bermingham too, who was dangerous in the tournament took time to settle and Cooper made that happen really well. Britney Cooper was the deserved man of the match as she took the West Indies to the final and the West Indian fans would be hoping she can produce another blistering performance on Sunday and lift the world cup for her country. We would bring you the preview of the Final between Australia and West Indies before the finals on Sunday. author |
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