Healy keen to heal the scars of past T20 world cups
AUSTRALIA’S women are through to their fifth straight World Twenty20 final after Alyssa Healy shook off a concussion to continue her dominance in a 71-run flogging of the West Indies yesterday.
Cleared to play on the morning of the semi-final, Healy claimed her fourth player-of-the-match award in five games as she topscored in Australia’s 5-142 before the hosts were rolled for 71 in Antigua.
Healy’s 46 from 38 balls was backed up with three dismissals with the gloves, including a nifty run-out to start the rot when opener Hayley Matthews (5) left her crease after defending a ball from Sophie Molineux.
It came five days after her collision with Megan Schutt, which sidelined her with a mild concussion for the second half of Australia’s loss to India.
“I was really, really lucky. I really didn’t get many concussion symptoms,” Healy said.
“I simply had a sore neck from the whiplash … I did all the right things as well to give my mind a break and let it refresh and replenish and go today.”
Healy’s knock kept her tournament-high average at 67.66, with 203 runs at a strike rate of 149.26.
She wasn’t alone as the match swung at the end of Australia’s innings when Rachael Haynes (25 not out from 15) helped take 17 off an over from Deandra Dottin to forge a competitive total on a turning wicket.
Ellyse Perry helped end the hosts’ chase before it really began, sending down a rare wicket-maiden in the third over of the West Indies to bowl Dottin with a quick off-cutter.
She finished with 2-2 from her two overs, with Shemaine Campbelle her second scalp when she was caught pulling at square leg for seven at a soldout Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Stefanie Taylor (16 off 28) was the only host to reach double figures before Molineux (1-14) had her caught, while Delissa Kimmince (2-17) and Ashleigh Gardner (2-15) claimed two scalps.
The win puts Australia through to tomorrow’s decider.
“I’d be lying if I sat here and said we haven’t got scars after the last couple of World Cups to be ranked No. 1 in the world and not have a trophy is sort of something we were looking to rectify,” Healy said.
“For us to go out there and execute exactly what we wanted to is just really pleasing. LAST night’s men’s AustraliaIndia Twenty20 was abandoned at the MCG because of rain, with Australia 7-132.