MOONEY EASES AUSTRALIA PAST WEST INDIES IN FIRST SEMI-FINAL
Media release
- Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux all take three wickets before Deandra Dottin recovers from earlier medical incident to lift the West Indies to 125
- Beth Mooney fires 29-ball half-century as her side ease to eight-wicket victory
- Australia now await winners of Thursday’s semi-final between England and South Africa in the final on Sunday at Lord’s
Beth Mooney’s unbeaten half-century helped Australia claim a convincing victory over the West Indies in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at The Oval.
The Australian opener ended on 61 not out as the ICC’s number-one ranked nation made light work of the chase, after their spinners had restricted the West Indies in the first innings despite Deandra Dottin's inspired knock after recovering from a medical incident.
It’s Australia’s 10th win in their last 11 matches against the West Indies, and their sixth in seven ICC Women’s T20 World Cup meetings, with Molineux’s side set to face either England or South Africa in Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
AUSTRALIA’S SPINNERS DOMINATE BEFORE DOTTIN’S COURAGEOUS CAMEO
Australia, unchanged from victory over India at Lord’s on Sunday, won the toss and elected to field, with Lucy Hamilton’s first ball driven for four by Hayley Matthews.
The West Indies skipper hit further boundaries off Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux but run scoring proved difficult throughout the powerplay.
They finished it 35 without loss, before Qiana Joseph, struggling for rhythm, was dropped on the boundary by Georgia Voll.
The pressure told on Matthews in the ninth over, bowled for 30 attempting a paddle sweep of Georgia Wareham’s first delivery, before Molineux ended Joseph’s difficult innings on 16.
Stafanie Taylor and Jahzara Claxton followed soon after, both dismissed by the impressive Ashleigh Gardner (2/13) for ducks as the West Indies slipped to 59 for four.
Chinelle Henry made 10 before Annabel Sutherland took a smart catch running round at long-on off Molineux (2/30).
Shemaine Campbelle offered some resistance on her way to 22, before hitting straight to Ellyse Perry off Wareham (2/17), bringing Deandra Dottin to the crease.
The 35-year-old prompted concern when she was pictured being carried towards the dressing room by her teammates shortly after the anthems, but she recovered to make a courageous cameo for her side.
She combined with Jannillea Glasgow, putting on 42 before the latter was dismissed off the final ball, with the West Indies reaching 125 for seven, Dottin unbeaten on 26.
MOONEY AND GARDNER EASE AUSSIES TO VICTORY
Georgia Voll whacked Chinelle Henry’s fourth ball of the reply for six and crashed consecutive boundaries off the same bowler two overs later as she got the chase off to a flyer.
Henry soon had her revenge, bowling the ICC’s number-one ranked batter for 16 before Hayley Matthews trapped Phoebe Litchfield (4) LBW after review, Australia 43 for two.
The West Indies’ only ICC Women’s T20 World Cup victory over Australia came in the 2016 final, having been beaten by them in three of their six semi-finals, and Mooney was clearly determined to extend that record.
She fired Jahzara Claxton’s first over of the tournament for 18 as her side raced to 63 for two at the end of the powerplay.
Ashleigh Gardner chipped in after Ellyse Perry (2) had retired hurt, following a straight six off Afy Fletcher with a four over the covers.
Mooney’s 29-ball half-century came up in the 11th over, her second of the tournament, and her and Gardner eased their side toward the finish line.
Gardner finished it with a four, ending 35 not out off 20 balls, as Australia continued their fine ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final record, their eighth win having reached this stage in all 10 editions of the competition.
Australia vs West Indies – The Oval, London
West Indies: 125/7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 30, Deandra Dottin 26 not out; Ashleigh Gardner 2/13; Georgia Wareham 2/17)
Australia: 127/2 in 13 overs (Beth Mooney 61 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 35 not out; Chinelle Henry 1/20, Hayley Matthews 1/23)
Result: Australia win by eight wickets