As ever, Australia are setting the benchmark in ladies’s cricket.
The seven-time 50-over World Cup champions are very a lot on track for an eighth title, with England, overwhelmed by six wickets in Indore on Wednesday, their newest victims.
Australia weren’t wobble-free in opposition to Nat Sciver-Brint’s facet at Holkar Stadium, faltering initially of each innings.
First, they conceded 55 runs throughout the opening eight overs after bowling loads of filth after which they tumbled to 68-4 inside 16 overs of the chase. Round that, although, regular service took maintain.
An Australia victory with 57 balls remaining confirmed England the extent they should attain. The bravery they should present.
The most important take dwelling from the sport was England’s enjoying of spin, with an absence of impetus in opposition to that fashion of bowling within the center overs the basis reason for their first defeat of this World Cup
England picked up simply 43 runs between overs 21-34 – 12 of these 14 overs had been bowled by spinners Alana King and Ash Gardner – as they grew to become caught after a assured begin.
In stark distinction, Australia, via Gardner and Annabel Sutherland, scored 98 runs between overs 21-34, chopping their requirement to 59 from 96 deliveries. Job mainly accomplished.
Leg-spinner King was England’s chief nemesis, utilizing immaculate management and sharp flip to report figures of 1-20 from 10 overs, a spell that includes 41 dot balls out of 60.
Pretty much as good as King is – and he or she may be very, superb – England wanted to be extra brave, based on ex-Australia males’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch, who informed Sky Sports activities: “There was almost a concession that England would play King out as soon as she came on.
“You may’t afford to simply sit there and look forward to the most effective gamers on the earth to make simple errors. It simply would not occur fairly often. It was virtually as in the event that they had been anxious about making a mistake themselves. You must be courageous in some unspecified time in the future.”
Sweeps? Foot movement? Wyatt-Hodge? How do England solve spin issues?
England skipper Sciver-Brunt – who scuffed King to mid-off to be dismissed for seven – said afterwards that her side could have played the leg-spinner more off the back foot, while Nasser Hussain lamented a lack of sweeps and use of the feet, as well as an absence of left-handed batters. That, Hussain says, is a long-term fix.
Within the brief time period, England in all probability have a choice to make over their decrease center order forward of the ultimate group sport in opposition to New Zealand on Saturday after which their semi-final versus considered one of Australia or South Africa subsequent week.
Sophia Dunkley, the workforce’s No 5, noticed her toils proceed in opposition to Australia with a painstaking 48-ball 22, a knock which adopted scores of nought, 18, 11 and 15 and leaves her with a mean 13.20 within the event. Emma Lamb is faring even worse.
No 6 batter Lamb was bowled for seven by Sutherland in opposition to Australia as her common dropped to 7.20. She has made double figures simply twice in 5 innings with a better of 13.
There have been requires the skilled Danni Wyatt-Hodge to return in earlier than the Australia sport and that concept solely gathered momentum after England’s defeat. Ought to she play, Wyatt-Hodge would assist the difficulty of getting slowed down by spin within the center.
You in all probability would not desire a participant coming in chilly for a semi-final so if Wyatt-Hodge is to make her mark it’s in all probability New Zealand or by no means for the 34-year-old.
As for Australia, there’s nonetheless a conflict versus a resurgent South Africa – who’ve received 5 video games on the trot since being skittled for 69 and routed by England – to cope with earlier than they’ll focus solely on the semis. Whoever wins that fixture on Saturday tops the group.
Most pundits will count on that to be Australia as a result of in the event you see off considered one of their match-winners one other is sort of sure to get you.
The victory over England was achieved with virtually nothing from the highest order, and the new-ball bowlers fluffing their strains, however then up stepped King together with her leg-spin brilliance and likewise all-rounders Sutherland and Gardner with bat and ball.
Australia may be boosted by the return of captain Alyssa Healy after the wicketkeeper and opening batter, who has hit a whole bunch on this event in opposition to India and Bangladesh, missed out in opposition to England with a minor – the facet hope – calf niggle.
They are going to take some stopping. And if England are to be those to try this later on this event, extra bravery goes to be required.
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