WELLINGTON: A double-century opening stand carried match favorites Australia to a commanding 157-run win over the West Indies on Wednesday and a spot within the Ladies’s International Cup last. Australia ruled their rain-shortened semi-final in Wellington from the outset, constructed round a 216-run stand-the absolute best of the tournament-between skilled openers Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes. An impressive rating of 305 for 3 off a discounted 45 overs used to be by no means threatened by way of the West Indies, who succumbed for 148 within the thirty seventh over.
The six-time champions Australia are unbeaten on the 50-over match and can face both South Africa or 2017 winners England within the last in Christchurch on Sunday. Play began just about two hours past due on account of misty rain and Healy, particularly, struggled for timing within the early levels after Australia have been despatched in on a humid Basin Reserve pitch. She sped up because the solar got here out, posting 129 off 107 balls to sign in a fourth one-day world century and fell 4 runs in need of her career-best rating.
The wicketkeeper-batter used her ft to superb impact in opposition to the spin-based Caribbean assault, smashing 17 fours and a six. She didn’t hit a boundary till the twelfth over however stated Haynes had reminded her to stay affected person. “I’m hoping I’ve discovered my lesson by way of now, that it doesn’t essentially need to occur abruptly,” Healy stated. “I really like batting with Rach, she’s a relaxing affect.” Haynes compiled 85 off 100 balls whilst the past due runs got here by means of unbeaten knocks from captain Meg Lanning (26) and Beth Mooney (43).
Dropped catches
It used to be a disappointing efficiency from the sixth-ranked West Indies, who have been free within the box, shedding a handful of probabilities, and so they struggled for momentum with the bat. Captain Stefanie Taylor used to be their height scorer with a cautious 48, however she lacked reinforce after top-order pair Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews each departed for 34.
Their hopes weren’t helped by way of accidents suffered within the box to bowlers Chinelle Henry and Anisa Mohammed, with neither ready to bat, that means Australia had to take handiest 8 wickets. Taylor stated her avid gamers felt like they have been at the again foot from the outset as Healy and Haynes established themselves. “A partnership like that deflates the group and, the force they carried out, we couldn’t recover from that,” she stated. “Whilst you regarded up, they have been 100 with out loss and all of the dropped catches didn’t assist us.”
Lanning used to be comfortable that her group weren’t driven to the prohibit. “I’ve been concerned with some very anxious semi-finals previously and we got here in anticipating an excessively tough recreation,” she stated. “The West Indies bowled smartly on the entrance and put us underneath force nevertheless it used to be a excellent recreation plan we had, to construct a excellent base.” The second one semi-final pits protecting champions England in opposition to second-ranked South Africa in Christchurch on Thursday, a repeat of the 2017 last-four mystery that used to be made up our minds within the last over. – AFP