Alyssa Healy Hammers Another Hundred to Propel the Australian Team into Cricket World Cup Knockout Stage
The Australian skipper has delivered superb back-to-back centuries to lead her team into the last four of the World Cup, inspiring them to a merciless comprehensive trouncing over Bangladesh.
The wicketkeeper-batter finished not out on 113 runs, arriving just a few days after her equally impressive 142-run knock that saw off the Indian team at the identical Vizag venue. This time, she combined in an undefeated 200-run first-wicket stand with her opening partner (84 not out) to dash to their target of 199 runs in just under 25 deliveries.
âI thought I was a little bit poor behind the stumps, and probably a little bit as skipper as well tonight, but weâll accept the win and progress,â she said.
Interestingly, the supreme expertise of the day's run-chase as the pair put on 202 came after possibly the team's weakest performance in the field under Healyâs leadership, with the skipper scolding herself in particular for dropping two of the half-dozen chances that went down.
âI felt somewhat let down with my wicketkeeping, and I needed to compensate with the batting, and fortunately delivered,â she added.
Since statistics was initially recorded on fielding performance metrics in 2013, the half-dozen dropped catches marked the team's worst fielding showing at a Womenâs World Cup.
âPerhaps itâs just that time of the competition â weâve been here a little while, and itâs an issue weâll reflect on,â the captain commented.
This allowed Bangladesh to manage 198 for 9 after they had chosen to bat, their highest total in an ODI against Australia, with a key batter scoring the first fifty ever for the Bangladeshi team against the reigning champions.
But the spinner's spellbinding continuous ten-over spell, in which she took 2-18 with four maiden overs, was vital to ensuring the team's target wasnât too challenging.
The Captain Delighted with Victory that Seals Semi-Final Spot
Healy was thrilled to learn that the victory, which puts her unbeaten side top of the group table on nine points after four victories and a wash-out, secures them a place in the semi-finals. âThatâs really cool,â she exclaimed.
The experienced skipper raced to her hundred off just 73 deliveries, the quickest hundred of the World Cup, and ended with 20 boundaries off the 77 deliveries she confronted as she accelerated from her partner in the latter stages in the knock after they had gone almost shot for shot towards their fifties.
Litchfield Impresses with First World Cup Half-Century
The young batter Litchfield hit 12 boundaries and one maximum, reaching to her maiden tournament fifty off 46 balls soon after her partner reached hers off 43. They went on to achieve the third-highest partnership by any Aussie duo at a World Cup event.
In the first innings, during the subpar fielding effort, Healy dropped the simplest of chances off a teammate and also failed to grasp a tough lofted one off another bowler. Annoyingly, she also did take a clean catch off the same bowler but didnât have it reviewed when the official turned down their shout.
The recalled Darcie Brown bowled the fastest balls at the World Cup so far but was nonetheless the Aussiesâ costliest bowling option, conceding 0-52 off her nine overs.
Spinners Excel as Alana King Leads
In contrast, the spinners thrived, led by Alana King, whose performance could have been more successful if a fielder hadnât dropped one in the slip cordon.
Fellow spin bowlers Wareham (two for 22 off seven) and Ash Gardner (two for 48 off nine overs) both contributed, while Sutherland consolidated her standing as the tournamentâs top wicket-taker with her two for 41, bringing her total to 13.
A batter's 44 runs and Mostaryâs unbeaten 66 off 80 deliveries took the team to their highest-ever total against the Aussies, but the total was rendered easy meat by a side who had successfully pursued 330 against India a few days before.
âIt's fantastic when youâve got the âQâ next to your name in a World Cup,â said player-of-the-match King. âNo doubt it doesnât stop here. We look forward to going back to Indore to take on the English team and South Africa.â