Day 5 Wrap: Statement wins as Super Six begins to take shape
INDIA FIRE AGAIN IN BIG WIN
Toss: India won the toss and chose to bat first
Result: India won by 85 runs
India cruised into the Super Six stage with a third win from three matches, comfortably overpowering Scotland in Benoni.
It wasn’t the perfect start for India, however, with star batter Shafali Verma falling to just the third delivery she faced, with Nayma Sheikh picking up the prized scalp.
But fellow senior international Richa Ghosh helped rebuild things for India, with a solid 33 from 35 balls, while opener Gongadi Trisha top-scored with a classy 57 off 51. And some stunning late hitting from Shweta Sehrawat boosted India’s total to 151/4, with the number six smashing 31* from just ten deliveries.
Scotland’s openers made a solid start to the reply, with Ailsa Lister (14 from 14) and Darcey Carter (24 from 22) ensuring that the underdogs were still in the game at the end of the powerplay.
But no other batter reached double figures as India’s attack clicked into gear, rattling through the Scottish line-up to bowl them all out for 66 in just 13.1 overs.
Mannat Kashyap was the pick of the bowlers with her 4/12 from four overs, while Archana Devi’s 3/14 also excelled, and Sonam Yadav returned extraordinary figures of 2/1 from her seven balls bowled.
India finish top of Group D, with Scotland relegated into a final tournament match against USA – another of the fourth-placed sides.
BOWLERS INSPIRE SOUTH AFRICA TO HUGE VICTORY
Toss: UAE won the toss and chose to bowl first
Result: South Africa won by 45 runs
A brilliant bowling display helped South Africa to victory over UAE and a second-place finish in Group D.
The Proteas saw Miane Smit rip through the middle order with 4/11 from her four overs, with Ayanda Hlubi (2/6) and Seshnie Naidu (2/16) also impressing with the ball.
Chasing 113 to win, UAE never got going, and were bundled out for 67 in 17 overs.
Earlier, a timely partnership between Jenna Evans (17 from 12) and Oluhle Siyo (25* from 28) had boosted South Africa up to a competitive score.
The openers had built a solid platform, with Simone Lourens hitting 27 from 29 and Elandri Janse Van Rensburg scoring 24 from 23. But just 44 runs were scored for the loss of six wickets in ten overs through the middle of the innings, giving UAE some before their own batting collapse.
Both teams progress to the Super Six stage along with group-winners India.
AUSTRALIA SHINE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS IN CRUSHING VICTORY
Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Australia won by 108 runs
Australia put on a clinical display to thrash Sri Lanka by 108 runs.
Australia’s new opening pair of Kate Pelle (27 from 19) and Sianna Ginger (30 from 31) got off to a brisk start, adding 41 from 33 balls. And although Sri Lanka’s spinners Rismi Sanjana (2/30) and Dewmi Wijerathne (1/21) picked up crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs, they couldn’t quite stem Australia’s scoring rate.
A belligerent charge from Amy Smith (22* from 16) and Lucy Hamilton (21 from 11) helped Australia to 159/5.
In the chase, Sri Lanka tried to go for their strokes early on but ended up losing three wickets inside the powerplay. Maggie Clark (2/8) was impeccable with the ball early on, delivering two maidens and taking two wickets in her opening spell.
Things only got worse, as Australia ripped apart the middle and lower order to bowl Sri Lanka out for 51 runs. All seven bowlers used by Australia managed to pick up at least one wicket.
USA EXIT ON A HIGH IN CLOSE LOSS TO BANGLADESH
Toss: USA won the toss and elected to bat
Result: Bangladesh won by five wickets
Bangladesh managed to overcome USA in a thrilling encounter that sees the Tigresses finish top of the group and head into the Super Six Stage in style.
Having failed to pass 100 in their first two games, USA seemed content to dig deep on a slow wicket in search of a solid score. This conservative approach helped them cross that landmark, with the team scoring 103/4 in their quota of overs. For Bangladesh, skipper Disha Biswas (2/13) and Marufa Akter (1/17) starred with the ball.
Bangladesh didn’t get the best of starts in reply, losing openers Afia Prottasha (7 from 10) and Sumaiya Akter (10 from 12) within the first five overs.
Shorna Akter (22 from 13) and Dilara Akter (17 from 15) then went on the attack, but USA kept fighting back. The two batters were dismissed before the halfway mark, leaving Bangladesh at 64/4 after 9.5 overs.
USA fought till the end, fielding and bowling with aplomb, but Bangladesh’s quality told, and they reached the total with five wickets and 15 balls to spare.
The Americans will now head into the play-off matches between the fourth-placed teams from the group stage, while Bangladesh will hope to carry their early form through into the Super Six and beyond.
