ICC Women’s World Cup: Australia book place in final

Team overcomes Sri Lanka by nine-wickets.

Australia women breezed into the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup with a thumping nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai.

After restricting their opponents to 131, Australia achieved the target easily thanks to Rachael Haynes’ unbeaten 71.

Sri Lanka, after being asked to bat first, lost wickets at regular intervals as only Deepika Rasangika (43) made a notable contribution to their innings.

Australia will play England, New Zealand or West Indies in their eighth World Cup final on February 17.

Shrubsole bowls England to victory

Anya Shrubsole continued her good form in the World Cup as England defeated South Africa by seven wickets in their Super-Sixes encounter in Cuttack.

Shrubsole, currently one of England’s leading lights in India, ran through South Africa’s  top order en route to career-best one-day figures of 5 for 17 as Mignon du Preez’s side were skittled for a paltry 77 in 29.3 overs.

“I had a pretty good day with the ball today,” said Shrubsole, according the Sky Sports. “Everything seemed to have clicked really well for me. But I am just happy to contribute towards a really good team performance and get the win that we vitally needed.”

While England stumbled to 26 for three in reply, any hopes of a collapse similar to the one they suffered in their agonising two-run defeat against Australia were banished by Lydia Greenway (25 not out) and Arran Brindle (28 not out), guiding them to their total in the 10th over.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.