Wednesday Nov 20, 2024
Wednesday Nov 20, 2024
Monday, 11 February 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
AAP: Australia cruised into the women’s cricket World Cup final with a crushing nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Sunday in Mumbai, India.
The unbeaten Southern Stars made it five wins from as many matches in their best performance to date.
Sri Lanka was dismissed for 131 off 45.2 overs in the Super Sixes match after being sent in by Australian Captain Jodie Fields.
Australia knocked off the target in just 22.2 overs and booked their place in 17 February 17 final in Mumbai with one round to spare.
Rachael Haynes (71 not out off 61 balls) and Meg Lanning (37 off 36) made light of the chase with an opening stand off 55 off 9.4 overs.
Lanning blasted six fours and a six in a spectacular cameo, while Haynes gathered nine fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Sri Lanka struggled against both seam and spin, with slick fielding backing up the bowling.
All six bowlers picked up at least one wicket, with spinner Erin Osborne (3-9 off 10) exerting a vice-like grip on the batters.
Sri Lanka built only one decent partnership with Deepika Rasangika (43 off 77 balls) and Dilani Manodara (21 off 46) adding 49 for the fifth wicket.
They lifted the score from 4-41, but both fell at 90 to effectively end Sri Lanka’s hopes of setting a testing target.
The pace brigade of Megan Schutt (2-34 off 8), Julie Hunter (1-6 off 6) and Holly Ferling (1-23 off 6) made the early breakthroughs.
Osborne, fellow spinner Lisa Sthalekar (2-26 off 8.2) and medium-pacer Sarah Coyte (1-31 off 7) worked their way through the middle order and tail.
Pace bowler Ellyse Perry, who missed Friday’s win over England with a stomach upset, was ruled out of Sunday’s match with an ankle injury, allowing teenager Ferling to retain her place.
Australia completed their Super Six fixtures against West Indies on Wednesday. New Zealand, West Indies and England are all still in contention to make the final.
