2nd Semi-Final, Birmingham, August 06, 2022, 10:30 PM
New Zealand Women
144/7(20.0ov)
Australia Women
145/5(19.3ov)
Australia Women beat New Zealand Women by 5 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Commentry
That concludes the proceedings. Here is the itinerary for Sunday, 7th August. England Women will face New Zealand Women in the bronze medal game at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT), while India Women will cross swords against Australia Women in the final for the gold medal at 9.30 pm IST (4 pm GMT). Do join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!
Earlier in the match, New Zealand Women wasted a good platform to maximize the end overs with the bat and managed only a below-par total on the board. They lost five wickets in the last five overs which stole the momentum from them. As mentioned before, their bowlers tried hard and Lea Tahuhu was exceptional in her spell, picking a 3-fer. Now, they will be back on the field to contest for the bronze medal against England Women.
Yet another hard-fought win for Australia Women and they continue to show great character to bounce back from a precarious situation. It was a bright start for them initially but then they lost two wickets in the Powerplay. Beth Mooney, dropped on 7, combined forces with Tahlia McGrath, who was dropped on 14, and together they stitched a 56-run stand, off 36 balls. That partnership took care of the required rate and despite losing a few quick wickets after that, the world champions crossed the line.
Not a convincing win for Australia Women but a win nonetheless to book a gold medal match against India Women. New Zealand Women tried hard but dropping so many catches haunted them, and they ended up being on the losing side. They are visibly disappointed. Had they been clinical on the field, the result could have gone their way.
In over# 20
1
1
0
Sophie Devine 31/1(3.3)
19.3
1
AUSTRALIA ARE IN THE FINAL! Fullish and around off, Gardner forces it down to straightish mid on, slightly aerial and scampers to the other end. Australia Women win by 5 wickets!
19.2
1
Too full and around leg, Harris helps it to square leg for one. Score level.
19.1
.
Shout for a caught behind, the umpire shakes her head. Full in length, around leg and drifting down, Harris tries to flick but misses. There is some sound but it is perhaps from the ball brushing the pads.
In over# 19
0
0
1
1
4
1
Hayley Jensen 38/0(4)
18.6
.
Goes outside off, Ashleigh Gardner hits it but finds the fielder at short cover. Two dots to end the over.
18.5
.
Full toss on middle, Ashleigh Gardner flicks it. The fielder makes a good stop at short mid-wicket.
18.4
1
Fuller and on off, Grace Harris forces it towards long on for one more. 2 more needed from 8 balls.
18.3
1
A full toss outside off, Ashleigh Gardner drives it to deep cover for one.
18.2
4
EDGY FOUR! This will help Australia Women! Full in length and outside off, Ashleigh Gardner goes for a full-blooded drive but only manages an outside edge past short third man. One boundary away now!
18.1
1
Full toss and on middle, Grace Harris flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for one.
In over# 18
1
4
0
1
1wd
0W
4
Sophie Devine 29/1(3)
17.6
1
A low full toss on leg, Grace Harris flicks it. The fielder makes a good stop at square leg, diving to her left. They collect one run. 9 needed more.
17.5
4
FOUR! Vital boundary to make things easy for Australia Women. Devine fails to land her yorker, it's a low full toss outside off and Harris slices it through extra cover for a boundary.
17.4
.
Fuller again, Grace Harris drives but finds the fielder at covers.