DERBY, England: India and Australia took giant strides towards clinching semi-final spots with another convincing wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively to remain unbeaten yesterday in the ICC Women’s World Cup clashes.
Australia scored a 159-run victory over Pakistan while England, who had lost to India in their opening clash, beat South Africa by 68 runs in a high scoring match.
Alyssa Healty hit an unbeaten 40-ball 63 and Ellyse Perry 66 as the Aussies reached 290 for eight batting first.
In reply, Pakistan were never in the race and were all out for 131 as batsman after batsman came out to defend and spend time at the crease rather than have a crack at the bowling.
And when they finally did pay some heed to an ever rising required rate, they simply perished.
At no stage were Australia stretched. The only form of resistance came from Sana Mir, the captain, who faced 85 deliveries for 45..
Sarah Taylor (147) and Tammy Beaumont (148) scored centuries as England set a huge 374-run target for South Africa.
Laura Wolvaardt (67) and Lizelle Lee (72) led the South African chase but the magnitude of the task proved just too much and they fell short by 68 runs.
Indian captain Mithali Raj and her team recorded their fourth win on the trot as they defended a respectable 232 for eight by restricting the island nation to 216 for seven.
India’s battery of slow bowlers have choked the opposition time and again during the tournament so far.
It was no different yesterday as leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2-23) led the charge while left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (1-48) and off-spinner Deepti Sharma (1-46) were also economical along with seasoned medium pacer Jhulan Goswami (2-26).
Dilani Manodara Surangika (61 off 75 balls) batted well but found little support at the other end.
Earlier, Deepti Sharma and Raj hit fine half-centuries to help India post a decent 232 for eight.
Deepti made 78 off 110 balls while Mithali (53 off 78) continued her good form with yet another 50 plus score to set the base for India’s total after the early dismissal of openers Punam Raut (16) and Smriti Mandhana (8).
Middle-order batters Veda Krishnamurthy (29) and Harmanpreet Kaur (20) stitched crucial 50 runs in just nine overs to help India get past the 230-run mark.
Player of the match Sharma said: “The wicket was a bit slow when I batted so I adjusted accordingly by taking my time and it paid off. I tried to time my straight-bat shots properly instead of hitting them hard.”
Electing to bat, India didn’t have the best of starts as Mandhana departed early. She was soon followed by Raut in the 11th over that brought Mithali and Deepti at the crease.
The duo first resurrected India’s innings and opened up once they got their eyes in.
They shared vital 118 runs for the third wicket to not only steady India’s innings but create the perfect launchpad for others to follow.
But just when it was time for the Indian eves to launch the attack on Sri Lankan bowlers three quick wickets dragged them back.
After the dismissal of Deepti in the 37th over, Jhulan Goswami (9), who was promoted up the order, and Mithali to fell in sucessive balls of Inoka Ranaweera’s 39th over to put brakes on India’s scoring.
But Veda and Harmanpreet took the onus upon themselves to keep up the ante before both got out in consecutive balls in the 49th over off Sripali Weerakkody to hand the Sri Lankan right-arm medium pacer, an opportunity to claim a hat-trick. The Indian willow-wielders managed a decent 62 runs off the last 10 overs.
For Sri Lanka, Weerakkody (3/28) was the pick of the bowlers while Inoka Ranaweera (2/55) also returned with two crucial wickets.