WI Women lose to Australia by 28 runs

CMC - West Indies Women’s bid to reach the final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Tournament was undermined by an impressive spell from Julie Hunter that fired Australia to a 28-run victory in a low-scoring second semi-final on Friday.

Juliana Nero hit four boundaries in the the top score of 31 from 45 balls and Shanel Daley struck three fours in 25 from 34 balls, but the Windies Women were bowled out for 87 in 19.2 overs before a modest, but vocal crowd at the Premadasa Stadium.

Nero and Daley – the only two Windies Women’s players to reach double figures – shared 48 for the fourth wicket, as Hunter collected 5 for 22 from 3.2 overs to lead the Australian bowling.

The result meant that the Windies Women for the second straight WWT20 tournament were knocked out at the semi-final stage, leaving the Aussies to face long-standing arch-rivals England Women in the Final on Sunday.

Left-arm spinner Shanel Daley and leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne had finished with the identical figures of 2 for 23 from four overs, as the Windies Women’s slow bowlers gave their side a chance, when they strangled Australia’s batters with steady, if not spectacular bowling, restricting them to 115 for seven off 20 overs, after they chose to bat.

The Windies Women however, suffered an early setback in their chase, when Australia strike bowler Elyse Perry bowled star batter Stafanie Taylor for three in the third over.

This started a wobble that saw the Windies Women lose their captain Merissa Aguilleira, talismanic batter Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle for 11 runs in the space of 17 deliveries, sinking them to 28 for four.

Daley joined Nero and they brought some respectability back to the chase, but they could escape the tight rein of the Australian bowlers.

When Daley fell to Osborne in the 17th over, this sparked a slide and the Windies Women lost their last six wickets for 11 from 19 balls, as Perry ended with 2-19 from four overs and Erin Osborne 2-20 from four overs.

Earlier, the Windies Women had kept a tight lid on Australia’s scoring, after Daley bowled opener Alyssa Healy for a duck with the second ball of the match.

Daley also bowled Jess Cameron for a duck to leave Australia 14 for two in the third over, as several of the Aussie batters – led by Lisa Sthalekar with 23 and Alex Blackwell with 21 – got starts, but failed to carry on.

A sharp performance in the field from the Windies Women also featured a stunning return catch taken by the 16-year-old Quintyne, and two run outs with quick throws from Anisa Mohammed and Campbelle to wicketkeeper Aguilleira.

sports@gleanerjm.com