MIRPUR – Australia women survived a Deandra Dottin-led late charge from West Indies Women to remain in contention for a hat-trick of titles with a tight win in the first semi-final in the ICCT20 Cricket Competition.
West Indies fell short by eight runs, scoring 132 for four in reply to Australia’s 140 for five.
Dottin (40), in the company of Stacy-Ann King (36 not out), kept West Indies interested in the chase of 141 with a 78-run stand that came in 8.4 overs, but her dismissal in the penultimate over continued her team’s trend of sliding against Australia in a World Cup knockout match.
West Indies have been stung by Australia in the final of the ODI World Cup last year and in the semi-final of the World T20 in Sri Lanka before that.
After the openers Kycia Knight (21) and Stafanie Taylor (24) had provided West Indies with a solid platform, much depended on how Dottin, would respond to an increasing required rate which had climbed to 9.3 at the end of 10 overs.
Dottin, though, opted for a careful approach rather than an all-out attack as her run-scoring load was lessened by an aggressive King at the other end. However, she didn’t let any loose delivery go unpunished – full-tosses were swatted away and shorter ones were pulled hard. She brought up the half-century of the partnership with a muscular shot over long-on, bringing down the equation to 43 off 28 balls.
But with 20 needed off 11, she smashed a low full-toss from Sarah Coyte straight into the hands of deep midwicket, effectively ending West Indies’ chances.
Australia had much to thank Alyssa Healy – who normally opens the innings but batted at No. 7 – for pushing the target to 140. She scored 30 not out to frustrate the West Indies. (ESPNcricinfo/SAT)
Summarised scores: Australia Women 140-5 in 20 overs (E. Villani 35, A. Healy 30 n.o., M. Manning 29, A. Blackwell 13 n.o.; A. Mohammed 2-24). West Indies Women 132-4 in 20 overs (D. Dottin 40, Stacy-Ann King 36 n.o., S. Taylor 24, Kycia Knight 21). Australia won by eight runs.