HAMILTON: India boosted their Girls’s Cricket Global Cup semi-final possibilities with a crushing 110-run win over Bangladesh on Tuesday, as a century from Australia captain Meg Lanning powered the match favorites to a five-wicket victory over South Africa. India set Bangladesh a goal of 230 in Hamilton after which skittled them for 119 in 40.3 overs to stay alive their playoff hopes.
In Tuesday’s different fit, in Wellington, Lanning smashed an unbeaten 135 as Australia cruised previous South Africa’s 271-5. It leaves up to now unbeaten South Africa in a scrap for the 3 different semi-final berths with India, the West Indies and England. Australia have been already into the ultimate 4. India selected to bat and gave the look to be cruising at 74 with out loss within the fifteenth over when Smriti Mandhana was once disregarded for 30.
It sparked a mini-collapse which noticed India lose two wickets in successive balls with out including to the ranking as Shafali Verma was once stumped on 42 and Mithali Raj stuck for a first-ball duck. India entered the ultimate 10 overs at 165-5 and their scoring momentum gave the impression to have stalled when Yastika Bhatia was once disregarded for fifty.
However Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana got here in combination for an invaluable 48-run stand that helped give India’s bowlers a good overall to shield. Bangladesh’s run chase by no means ignited within the face of tight bowling from India highlighted by means of 4 wickets for 30 from Rana. There was once some middle-order resistance from Salma Khatun, who made 32, and Lata Mondal, 24, however they by no means appeared like reeling in India’s goal.
The fit between Australia and South Africa introduced in combination the one two undefeated groups at this yr’s match. With Australia already thru to the semi-finals, South Africa had extra to play for as a win would have sealed a place within the best 4. They set a cast goal of 272 off the again of 90 from Laura Woolvardt however Australia’s bold batting line-up simply overhauled the objective with 28 balls to spare.
“We had an excellent first innings and 270 was once par, on every other day the bowling assault would have defended it,” mentioned South Africa captain Sune Luus. “We simply misplaced it a little at the box and most certainly misplaced a little of center of attention… it received’t occur once more.” Australia put South Africa in to bat after profitable the toss however struggled to make early inroads as Woolvardt and Lizelle Lee placed on an 88-run opening partnership.
Woolvardt notched her fourth consecutive half-century on the match, supported by means of Luus’s run-a-ball 52 and Marizanne Kapp’s 30 off 21 balls. Australia’s openers departed affordably however skipper Lanning stepped as much as information the six-time champions to 146-3 after 25 overs. “It kind of become transparent to me that I needed to bat thru once we misplaced a few early wickets,” she mentioned. It was once Lanning’s fifteenth ODI century and got here of 92 balls, together with 13 fours and one six. Tahlia McGrath was once Australia’s subsequent easiest batter on 32, with Lanning’s teammates content material to play cameo roles. – AFP