Women’s World T20: Lanning’s half-century takes Aussies into final

Defeat traditional rivals England by five runs in last-four clash.

NEW DELHI: Captain Meg Lanning’s aggressive half-century helped holders Australia reach their fourth consecutive women’s World T20 final yesterday after beating traditional rivals England by five runs in the first semi-final.

Put in to bat on a hot sunny afternoon in New Delhi, Australia posted a competitive 132-6 after Lanning’s 50-ball 55, before their bowlers restricted England to 127-7 despite a strong opening stand.

Australian openers Alyssa Healy and Elyse Villani also laid a decent platform for Lanning to build on as England bowlers found it hard to contain the steady flow of boundaries.



Healy (25) and Villani (19) played useful cameos but their departure slowed the Aussie charge. Lanning then took control, starting off cautiously but then changing gear to give the England bowlers a hard time.

England tried to claw their way back into the game with some sharp fielding, including two run-outs from direct hits in the outfield, and their reply got off to a healthy start as skipper Charlotte Edwards and Tammy Beaumont put on a 67-run opening stand.

Australia however kept their cool, and made the breakthrough when leg-spinner Kristen Beams took the prized wicket of Edwards (31).



Beaumont (32) hung around for a while before falling to medium-pacer Megan Schutt as the wheels started to come off the England chase.

Wicketkeeper-batswoman Sarah Taylor did try to inject some life into the chase but her departure for 21 was a major blow to England’s chances of repeating their 2009 title-winning performance.

Down the order, Katherine Brunt did hit a boundary and a six to raise some hopes but Schutt cleaned her up to shut the doors on England. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st,  2016.

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