Women’s World Cup 2013 after securing a massive nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a Super Six encounter at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (February 10).
The team that has relied on its bowling to maintain its unbeaten run in this tournament, showed glimpses of a batting revival as the top three batters took the side home in just 22.2 overs. Jodie Fields, the Australian captain, was pleased with the batting display. “We had a really good opening partnership and that’s something that we had lacked in the earlier stages of the tournament,” said Fields. “And then for Rachael Haynes and Jess Cameron to finish of the match in dominating style was good for the game.”
Australia’s bowlers have put up some of the best performances in the tournament and have also rescued the team each time the batters failed to score. Coupled with a slick fielding unit, Australia is well on its way to a sixth world title.
“I think the bowling and fielding performance of the team throughout the tournament has been one of our strengths,” said Fields. “We pride ourselves in being one of the top nations in the field and I think we have done that throughout the tournament. We will continue to work on that in training and keep focusing on positives which are our fielding and bowling.”
The strength of the Australian bowling line-up can be judged from the fact that the absence of Ellyse Perry, one of the fastest bowlers in the women’s game, wasn’t felt in the two games that she missed. An ankle injury forced her to sit out on Sunday as Holly Ferling got yet another chance. “She had an ankle injury that had flared up a bit,” explained Fields of Perry. “She is looking good and resting and hopefully she will be alright for the West Indies game.”
Erin Osborne, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, for her astonishing spell of three for 9, said she was helped by the pressure and accuracy that the pacers had provided in the beginning. “Our seamers did a fantastic job early on which allowed me to come into the game and find my rhythm and in the middle over period take wickets so it was nice but I definitely feel our fielders stepped up early on,” said Osborne.
Fields too appreciated the way the seamers had chipped in to aid Osborne later on. “I think particularly on this ground its been a little bit damp in the morning so it really helps the seamers and Megan Schutt and Julie Hunter took advantage of those conditions today,” said Fields. “Hunter’s figures of 6-3-6-1 is really good bowling and as Erin said it allowed the spinners to really tighten it up in the middle.”
Australia 132 for 1 (Haynes 71*)
Sri Lanka 131 (Rasangika 43, Osborne 3-9)
Australia won by nine wickets
