Indian women’s warm-up game vs Pak washed out
BRISBANE: India’s first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against arch-rivals Pakistan was washed out here on Sunday without a ball being bowled, denting the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side’s lastminute preparations.
Heavy downpour resulted in the match being called off without the toss being held at the Allan Border Field, days of the showpiece starting February 21.
India will face West Indies in their second and final warm-up game here on February 18.
The T20 World Cup will begin on February 21 with a mouthwatering contest between the Indian women and current champions and four-time winners Australia women in Sydney.
Australia’s preparations were also hampered as they were unable to play their warm-up match against the West Indies here on Saturday due to a wet outfield. Bangladesh’s match against World Cup debutants Thailand here was also called off.
ENGLAND WIN
ADELAIDE: England beat New Zealand by six wickets Sunday in their first official warm-up for the women’s Twenty20 World Cup, but India’s preparations were hit with their clash against Pakistan washed out.
England managed some much-needed match practice with a comfortable win over New Zealand in Adelaide, restricting them to just 134 for nine.
Chasing 135 to win, Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt put on 41 before Jones was unlucky to bottom-edge an attempted pull on to her stumps. Wyatt and captain Heather Knight added 40 to take England most of the way to victory, with Knight hitting the winning runs with two overs to spare.
INJURY SCARE
South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs in Adelaide to ensure they got their build-up off to a winning start.
Sri Lankan pacer Achini Kulasuriya was cleared of serious injury after a horrific blow to the head while fielding.
A Sri Lanka team spokesman told cricket.com.au Kulasuriya had been responsive as she was carried from the field, and she was discharged from hospital late this afternoon and returned to the team’s Adelaide hotel.
The incident happened when Kulasuriya misjudged a skied catch by South Africa’s Chloe Tryon while fielding at long-on. The ball ended hitting her flush on her head and she lay face down motionless for several minutes.
Her team mates and the batters all rushed to her aid and ambulance officers later checked her condition. She was then stretchered off the field.