West Indies Women bounced out at semifinal stage by Aussies

LONDON, England – West Indies Women produced a sub-par performance with both and ball to slump to an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat to Australia Women in the first semifinal of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, yesterday.

In a forgettable World Cup for the regional side’s batters, they were well below their best yet again after being sent in to bat at Kennington Oval, only mustering a paltry 125 for seven in their 20 overs.

Beth Mooney then struck an unbeaten half century, while Player-of-the-Match Ashleigh Gardner capped off an impressive showing with a knock of 35 not out, as the six-time champions breezed to 127 for two in just 13 overs.

With the win Australia booked their spot in Sunday’s final, where they will face either England or South Africa.

It also ensured the Aussies continued their dominance over West Indies Women, with the win being their 18th in 20 T20Is between the two sides.

Captain Hayley Matthews emphatically drove the first ball of the match from left-arm pacer Lucy Hamilton through cover for four and struck spinner Sophie Molineux for successive boundaries to start the third over to give the Windies a good start.

Her opening partner Qiana Joseph, however, struggled to score against a well-planned Aussie attack that dared her to score through the onside.

Joseph could only muster six runs from her first 16 balls, and after a promising start of 25 without loss after three overs, the Windies ended the powerplay on 35 without loss.

With the pressure building, Matthews was bowled for 30 off 28 balls trying to hit Georgia Wareham out of the ground to make the score 47 for one in the ninth over, and eight runs later Joseph’s miserable innings of 16 off 22 balls came to an end when she swept Molineux into the hands of deep midwicket.

Stafanie Taylor only survived two balls before Gardner had her caught at midwicket for a duck, and three balls later she had Jahzara Claxton caught at cover without scoring to reduce the Windies to 59 for four in the 11th over.

Ashleigh Gardner (centre) celebrates one of her two wickets against the West Indies. (Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Chinelle Henry made 10 before becoming the second of Molineux’s victims and Shemaine Campbelle’s fighting innings of 22 off 25 balls eventually ended when she was dismissed by Georgia Wareham to make the score 83 for six.

The Windies only got up to their eventual total thanks to the efforts of Deandra Dottin and Jannillea Glasgow, who were able to blast 41 runs off the last four overs.

Dottin, who had to be lifted for medical attention moments before the start of the match, batted at number eight and hit an unbeaten 26 off 16 balls with four fours, while Glasgow scored 15 off 13 balls before being dismissed off the last ball of the innings.

Gardner was the pick of Australia’s bowlers with 2-13, while Wareham took 2-17 and Molineux 2-30.

Australia then got off to a speedy start in their run chase with Georgia Voll and Mooney putting on 29 runs inside three overs.

Henry gave the Windies hope by bowling Voll for 16, but Mooney maintained the momentum by hitting Karishma Ramharack for two boundaries in the fourth over.

Matthews accounted for the wicket of Phoebe Litchfield by way of the lbw route after she was intially given not out, but from 43 for two the Windies would reap no more success.

Mooney moved into the 40s by smashing Claxton for four fours in the sixth over, as Australia ended the powerplay at 63 for two.

Ellyse Perry retired hurt after picking up an injury, but shortly after Mooney brought up her half century off 39 balls to keep her side in control.

Mooney and Gardner shared an unbroken partnership of 63 in six overs, with Gardner ending the contest by flicking Aaliyah Alleyne for four off the last ball of the 12th over.

Mooney ended on 61 not out off 36 balls with eight fours, while Gardner was unbeaten on 35 off 20 balls with four fours and one six.

(CMC)

Summarised Scores

WEST INDIES WOMEN 125-7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 30, Deandra Dottin 26 not out, Shemaine Campbelle 22, Qiana Joseph 16, Jannillea Glasgow 15, Chinelle Henry 10; Ashleigh Gardner 2-13, Georgia Wareham 2-17, Sophie Molineux 2-30) vs AUSTRALIA WOMEN 127-2 in 13 overs (Beth Mooney 61 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 35 not out, Georgia Voll 16).