Report: Eng vs Aus – M13, 2013 ICC Women’s WC
First Published : 08 Feb 2013, 17:06
Last Modified : 08 Feb 2013, 17:06
Australia pulled off a thrilling two- run win against England in a low-scoring game at the Brabourne Stadium on the first day of the Super Six stage of the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup. The women from Down Under, therefore, remain unbeaten in the tournament. After the England bowlers ran through the Australian line-up, the Jodie Fields-led side meted out the same treatment to the defending champions in a close at the CCI.
Defending 147, the Australian pacers hit the deck hard from the word go by making dents in the opposition line-up early on. Megan Schutt claimed the important wickets of Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor to send England on the back foot. And Holly Ferling, who had replaced the ill strike bowler Elyse Perry, got Danielle Wyatt to nick the ball to Jodie Fields behind the stumps to leave England on 37 for three. Julie Hunter then dealt a lethal double blow by claiming Arran Brindle and Heather Knight in the 10th over after just one more run was added to the England total. Brindle offered a catch to Rachael Haynes at backward point, while Knight was trapped leg-before wicket. In the next over, Ferling uprooted Jenny Gunn’s middle stump to leave England floundering on 39 for six.
With 109 more runs required, Laura Marsh joined Lydia Greenway in the middle, and the duo stabilised the England innings and kept them in the game, until the latter was sent back. Sarah Coyte trapped Marsh leg-before to end the blossoming seventh wicket partnership for 57. However, continuing to anchor the innings, Greenway brought up the three-figure mark for the English side with a boundary over mid-wicket. An over later, she collected nine runs off Schutt with two boundaries. But with England needing 34 runs, Greenway (49) was sent back by Ferling, while Lisa Sthalekar followed up with the wicket of Katherine Brunt in the next to seize the advantage from England and leave them on 114 for nine.
But with the match precariously poised, Holly Colvin collected 12 runs off Coyte to bring England within 22 runs of the target. Dealing in boundaries, Colvin and Anya Shrubsole held their nerve and added singles and twos to take their team towards the Australian total. But with two runs required to win, Colvin edged Erin Osborne to the wicketkeeper, resulting in an Australian win.
Earlier, after Edwards opted to bowl first, Shrubsole got the ball rolling with the wicket of Haynes. The pacer claimed three, while Katherine Brunt, Arran Brindle and Colvin claimed two each and Jenny Gunn chipped in with one wicket.
The departure of opener Haynes in the sixth over triggered a top-order collapse leaving the Australians reeling on 32 for five in the 13th over. Jess Cameron who replaced Haynes at the crease was castled by Shrubsole later in the same over without adding to the total, while Alex Blackwell nicked Brunt to the wicketkeeper to return to the dressing room in the next. Meg Lanning was the next to walk back after edging Shrubsole to Taylor behind the stumps for 17. Gunn then struck in her first over to claim the key wicket of skipper Jodie Fields. The Australian captain scooped a catch to Greenway at point to depart for three.
However, Sthalekar and Coyte offered resistance against the England bowling attack. With quick running between the wickets and some well-timed boundaries the duo stitched an 82-run partnership to stem the fall of wickets and breathe new life into the innings. However, Brindle disturbed Stahlekar’s woodwork to send her back for 41, while Colvin followed up with the wicket of Erin Osborne in the next. The left-arm spinner then dealt another blow by ending Coyte’s stay at the crease for 44.
And after Brindle returned to claim Schutt, Shrubsole dismissed Ferling 12 runs later to wrap up the Australian innings for 147.
Brief scores: Australia 147 all out in 44.4 overs (S Coyte 44, L Sthalekar 41, A Shrubsole 3/24) beat England 145 all out in 47.3 overs (L Greenway 49*, H Ferling 3/35) by 2 runs
Player of the match: Lisa Sthalekar for her all-round performance.
