All-round Australia Women warms up with win

Kristen Beams was both frugal and potent with her legspin for Australia Women on Monday (March 14), picking up three vital West Indies wickets while giving away just nine runs in her side's 43-run win in itsICC Women's World T20 warm-up in Chennai.

Australia, through the efforts of Elyse Villani (51 in 42 balls) and Meg Lanning (49 not out in 39 balls) posted 139 for 3 in its 20 overs before its bowlers, led by Beams, bundled out the Caribbean women for 96 in 19 overs.

Jess Jonassen struck in the first over of the West Indies reply, before Rene Farrell reduced it to 23 for 2. Beams then struck regular blows for Australia, sending back Stafanie Taylor, the captain, Deandra Dottin and Britney Cooper, with none of them able to cross 15.

Stacy-Ann King kept the scoreboard ticking, but ran out of partners as Farrell wrapped things up to end with 3 for 18 in her four overs.

Earlier, put in, Australia's efforts to find a dependable opening combination got a boost when Alyssa Healy and Villani added 70 for the first wicket. Villani did much of the big hitting in that stand, ending with eight boundaries. Once she fell caught and bowled to Dottin, Lanning, the captain, took over, smashing three sixes and two fours to take Australia to a strong total.

The all-round display would have pleased Australia, the defending champion, as it aims to bounce back from bilateral series reverses against India and New Zealand earlier this year. Lanning's side plays its first Group A game against South Africa on March 18 in Nagpur. The West Indies, who is in Group B, plays Pakistan in Chennai on Wednesday.