Day 2 Talking Points CWC22: Haynes, Sciver score brilliant tons; Bangladesh run South Africa close

Bangladesh v South Africa

5 March 2022 - University Oval, Dunedin

MATCH CENTRE | MATCH REPORT

Bangladesh did well to restrict the South African top-order to 69 runs from the opening 19.3 overs but had failed to make the most of their chances and claimed only one wicket.

Ritu Moni then struck to take the vital wicket of Laura Wolvaardt as the star batter seemed set for an innings that could take the match away from Bangladesh.

Wolvaardt, No.9 in the MRF Tyres ICC Women's ODI Batting Rankings, looked assured against both seamers and spinners until playing and missing at a ball just outside off stump to be bowled for 41.

Lara Goodall occupied the crease alongside Wolvaardt without being able to turn the strike over enough but was part of a spectacular dismissal when Rumana Ahmed took a diving catch to send the left-hander back to the pavilion for 12 runs off 43 balls.

The two quick wickets helped set up an enthralling contest as the South African batters then laboured through the middle overs and ended up with a score of 207 all out.

Defending a relatively low score, South Africa needed their bowlers in top form for the remainder of the contest. Shamina Sultana and Sharmin Akhter gave Bangladesh a decent start with a partnership of 69. It was Khaka who then stepped up to the mark to turn the game on its head. She hit the base of the middle-stump, bowling out Shamina Sultana for 27.

In her next over, she would add two more scalps to her bowling figures. First, she would get Sharmin Akhter for 34 with a delivery that held its line and got the edge. Next up, Murshida Khatun would walk back for a duck against a full delivery that moved away and caught the edge, with the keeper taking a safe catch.

Khaka would then bring up 100 wickets in ODIs with the scalp of Rumana Ahmed for 21, with a brilliant in-swinger. She ended up with figures of 4/32 in her 10 overs and proved to be the difference. Bangladesh fought back valiantly but fell short by 32 runs.

Australia v England

5 March 2022 - Seddon Park, Hamilton

MATCH CENTRE | MATCH REPORT

England contained Australia in the opening phase of the game and also snared the wicket of Alyssa Healy for 28. But that was the end of their joy as far as their bowling innings was concerned.

Rachael Haynes, joined by skipper Meg Lanning at the crease then took the English bowlers to the cleaners. First batting at a steady pace, they started to up the ante as the innings progressed. They would establish a mammoth stand of 194 in only 204 deliveries, which would set up their side perfectly for a big finish.

Lanning scored a brilliant 110-ball 86, hitting seven boundaries and one six before being dismissed by Katherine Brunt in the 43rd over.

Haynes would then carry on and bring up the second century of her ODI career, hitting a brilliant 131-ball 130, consisting of fourteen fours and one six. She would be dismissed in 49th over by Nat Sciver.

Their efforts would help the tournament favourites post a big score of 310/3 on the board.

To chase such a massive score down, England needed their openers to go big. But they got exactly the opposite of that as Lauren Winfield-Hill was dismissed for a duck. Heather Knight then stitched a fifty-plus partnership with Tammy Beaumont but would depart for 40 as well.

Beaumont would then be bowled by a peach of a delivery from Alana King with Nat Sciver on 74 quickly becoming England's last glimmer of hope.

She would stitch together decent partnerships with Sophia Dunkley and then Katherine Brunt while going a good strike rate. Sciver's knock put Australia under pressure for the first time in the game as she brought up a memorable century. Despite her best efforts, England would eventually fall short by 12 runs as Jess Jonassen delivered a tight final over. But Sciver's innings of 109* off only 82 deliveries, which included thirteen boundaries was certainly a valiant effort.

On a sombre day for Australian cricket, Alana King delivered a spell that would have put a smile on Shane Warne's face. The delivery to dismiss Tammy Beaumont was certainly out of the King of Spin's textbook. Pitching on leg, the ball spun viciously and Beaumont, who was down the wicket, was stumped.

She would also get the wicket of Amy Jones and completed her set by bowling Sophia Dunkley round the legs. King would register figures of 3/59 in her 10 overs, which would prove to be the difference and was a brilliant showing in the art of leg-spin bowling.