Indore: What a scene! Four wickets down at 68. Captain Alyssa Healy injured, sitting in the dug-out. England was feeling there’s a chance. But then happened what Australia always does comeback from anywhere.
Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner played such a partnership that England’s bowlers were left shell-shocked. 180 runs partnership. Unbroken. And the funny part at the end there was a race about whose century would come first.
Gardner Won the Race, Sutherland Stuck at 98
Gardner completed her century in 69 balls. Sent Lauren Bell’s delivery to the deep third boundary and raised her bat in joy. But then played three dot balls perhaps wanted to give Sutherland a chance too?
Four runs needed for victory, five for Sutherland’s century. Attempted a six off Sophie Ecclestone. Went very high to cover. Heather Knight dropped the catch!
Took two runs. Then a single and Sutherland got stuck at the non-striker’s end. On 98 runs. Gardner hit the winning boundary. Match over, but Sutherland’s century remained incomplete.
“Look, century can be made later too. Team won, that’s the biggest thing,” Sutherland said after the match.
In the Beginning It Seemed Australia Will Lose
Lauren Bell’s third ball itself uprooted Phoebe Litchfield’s off stump. First time in 33 ODI innings Litchfield got out in the first over.
Georgia Voll playing in place of injured Healy went for a slog-sweep off Linsey Smith. Bottom edge hit, fell on off stump, lost balance and fell backward in a somersault. Complete package of indignity!
Ellyse Perry gave a return catch off a leading edge. Stand-in captain Beth Mooney gave a sharp catch to Nat Sciver-Brunt at midwicket off Sophie Ecclestone.
Four wickets at 68. Alyssa Healy was shaking her head sitting in the dug-out. Situation was serious.
Then Came the Turnaround
Sutherland was struggling initially. But gradually found rhythm. Powerful slog-sweep off Smith. Hit Dean over covers for four. Steered Bell expertly between extra cover and mid-off.
When the fifty came, confidence grew more.
Gardner completed her fifty with a gorgeous pulled four off Sciver-Brunt. Then didn’t stop at all. Immediately hit two more fours.
Three consecutive fours in Capsey’s over. Again three fours in Ecclestone’s ninth over. Gardner moved ahead of Sutherland.
The rest of the match was just formality. 57 balls remained when Australia registered victory. By six wickets. Easily.
England’s Innings: Beaumont Shone, Rest Faded
Tammy Beaumont played a good innings 78 runs. Her first good score in this World Cup. 55-run opening partnership with Amy Jones.
But middle order flopped again. Alice Capsey made 38 runs (32 balls). Charlie Dean played a useful cameo from No.8 of 26 runs (27 balls). Together they added 61 runs.
Overall England made 244/9. This score wasn’t enough against a strong team like Australia.
Sutherland and King’s Bowling
Sutherland was excellent with ball too. 3/60. Bowled Jones with a perfect delivery. Bowled Emma Lamb on the pads with a back-of-the-hand slower ball.
But player of the match performance was Alana King’s. The leg-spinner completely choked England in the middle overs. Just 13 runs in eight overs! Got the big wicket of Sciver-Brunt for just 7 runs.
King bowled a brilliant spell of 1/20 in 10 overs. Between the 20th and 30th over, England made just 26 runs. In the same phase, Australia made 77 runs without losing a wicket.
Beaumont’s Dismissal Also Interesting
Georgia Voll took a cool-headed catch in her first World Cup match. Beaumont played a big shot off Sutherland’s slower ball. Voll ran backward at long-on. Parried the ball over the boundary rope. Fell outside the boundary herself. Then calmly came back inside and completed the catch.
Umpires checked out!
Australia Back to Top
With this win, Australia reached back to the top of the points table. England suffered their first defeat of the tournament.
Biggest thing even without captain Healy, Australia showed no problems. Depth is such that someone or the other always stands up.
“That’s the specialty of our team. Sometimes one, sometimes another. Today was Annabel and Ash’s day,” said stand-in captain Beth Mooney.
Also Read | One Win and Semi-Final, One Loss and Out: Do-or-Die Clash for India
