Aussies storm into Cup semis
IMPRESSIVE run hauls from powerhouse batters Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning helped Australia pull off the biggest run chase in ODI Women’s World Cup history to maintain its unbeaten streak and secure a place in the semi-final in a final-over thriller against India.
Despite losing opening batters Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the first six overs, India’s middle order knuckled down to set an impressive total of 277 runs after being sent in to bat first at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday.
The Aussies proved they were up to the challenge, chasing it down with three balls to spare and six wickets in hand.
It was opening duo Rachael Haynes and Healy who set the pace – making 67 runs between them in the first 10 overs.
The partnership lasted 19 overs, before Healy was sent packing by a ball from Sneh Rana, which was easily caught by Mithali Raj.
Healy put on an impressive show with the bat, slogging nine fours in her 72-run total. Haynes, the leading run scorer in the World Cup, was caught behind two overs later after she put together 43 runs.
It took incoming batters captain Lanning and Ellyse Perry a few overs to find their groove but once they did they continued what the opening duo had started.
Lanning reached 50 runs after 56 balls, which included eight fours.
With nine overs to go the heavens opened – Australia needed 53 runs to take the win.
The disruption did not work in Perry’s favour, being caught on 28 off 51 on the third ball after play resumed.
Lanning fell short of her century, being caught by Pooja Vastrakar on 97 – putting pressure on Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath to come up with the remaining eight runs from eight balls. But Mooney remained cool as a cucumber, firing away two more boundaries, finishing on 30 off only 20 balls.