Tag: Womens T20 World Cup

The Womens’ T20 World Cup Semi Finalists

A brief look at the four teams in the semi-finals of the Womens Under 19 World Cup, and a substantial photo gallery.

The semi-finalists of the Womens T20 World Cup are now established, as are the timings of their matches. Tomorrow when I shall be at work Australia face India, while on Friday England take on the hosts South Africa. This post looks at the four sides and their passage to the semi-finals.

AUSTRALIA

They came into this tournament as heavy favourites and there is no great reason to alter that assessment. They have disposed of everyone in their path to date. They still have two tough contests ahead of them, but all available evidence suggests that they are thoroughly capable of adding yet more silverware to the best stocked trophy cabinet in international cricket.

ENGLAND

England are also unbeaten, and finished their group stage with a flourish (a game I know about only at second hand due to work commitments), beating Pakistan by 114 runs (213-5 plays 99). They should have what it takes to get past South Africa in the semi-final, but unless India produce something beyond anything they have shown thus far in the tournament the women in green and gold will be waiting in the final, and England will need to be at their absolute best and probably have a bit of luck in addition to win that contest. England have been strong in all areas, with their least effective player of the tournament so far being the veteran Katherine Sciver-Brunt whose last ICC tournament this is.

INDIA

Other than suffering a narrow defeat at England’s hands India did everything right in their group. They should also be buoyed by the recent success of their juniors in the Womens U19 T20 World Cup, the first world cup win by any Indian women’s team, and the upcoming Womens Premier League (female equivalent of the IPL) will act as a spur to ensure that they produce their best on the biggest stage, but they face a mighty obstacle in the semi-finals in the form of the Aussies.

SOUTH AFRICA

The hosts left ir right to the last gasp to ensure their own qualification. They entered the last match of the group stage, against Bangladesh, needing a win (nothing else – net RR was not an issue) to qualify. South African teams have been known to fail to close out such deals, notably the South African men, who in the last men’s T20 World Cup were in the identical position against even less significant opposition, The Netherlands, and suffered a humiliating defeat and consequent early exit. SA were less impressive than their final winning margin of 10 wickets with 2.1 overs to spare suggests – Bangladesh batted poorly, and failed to capitalize on a number of opportunities they were given in the field. Although sometimes teams who only just sneak in at the last moment end up winning because they are the ones in form I don’t think even the most one-eyed of South Africa fans would dispute that they rank as fourth out of the teams to qualify for the semi-finals.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

Two Great Run Chases

A brief look back at yesterday’s cricket and a huge photo gallery, including the first lapwings of 2023.

Yesterday was Subcontinent day in the Womens T20 World Cup. In the first match of the day India were pitted against Pakistan, while in the second Bangladesh took on Sri Lanka.

INDIA V PAKISTAN

Pakistan looked to have done pretty well when they tallied 149 from their 20 overs. The experienced Bismah Maroof scored 68* off 55 balls, while Ayesha Naseem made an aggressive 43* off 25 balls. India were second best for 16 of their allotted 20 overs, but a combination of poor Pakistani bowling and some good batting by them in overs 17,18 and 19 saw them turn things round and win with a whole over to spare.

BANGLADESH V SRI LANKA

Bangladesh made a not terribly impressive 126 from their 20 overs. However, when teenager Marufa Akhter took 3-0 in her first eight balls as an international bowler Sri Lanka were 25-3 and looking shaky. The fourth wicket pair stopped the rot, and upped their tempo once the immediate danger of a collapse had past. In the end, like India earlier in the day they had a whole over to spare when the winning boundary was hit. The unbroken 4th wicket stand was worth 104* and both players had topped 50.

PHOTOGRAPHS

I have a huge gallery to share with you, including the first decent pictures I have managed to get of lapwings in 2023 – this morning at the point where the Nar flows into the Great Ouse.

England and Australia off to Winning Starts at the Womens T20 World Cup

A look back at yesterday’s two matches in the Women’s T20 World Cup and some photographs.

The Womens World T20 Cup is underway in South Africa. This post looks back at the two matches that took place yesterday.

ENGLAND V WEST INDIES

West Indies batted first. There were no huge selection surprises. Katherine Sciver-Brunt entered the record books just by taking the field – at 37 years 224 days she became the oldest person ever to turn out for England in a Women’s T20 World Cup match. She also then became England’s oldest ever wicket taker in a match of this nature. England were not quite at their best with the ball and in the field, though Sophie Ecclestone emerged with 3-23 from her four overs. West Indies probably scored about 15 runs more than they should have done due to English lapses, eventually finishing on 136.

Sophia Dunkley served notice of her and England’s intentions by scoring 34 off 18 balls. However, she, Danni Wyatt and Alice Capsey all fell before England were halfway to the target. At that point Heather Knight joined Natalie Sciver-Brunt, and there were no further alarms as England cruised home with over five overs to spare.

AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND

Australia are the current holders, and arrived at the tournament with an awesome looking squad. A blistering batting performance, with Alyssa Healy scoring a record equalling sixth World T20 cup 50 and Ellyse Perry scoring 40 off just 22 balls saw Australia total 173-9, a total that would require excellent batting and a fair amount of luck to overhaul.

The Kiwis, whose batting line up is not the deepest, started disastrously with both openers out for ducks in the first over of the reply. The third wicket pair hinted briefly at a revival, but when that stand was ended by a controversial decision. Thereafter no one really threatened to anything with the bat. Ashleigh Gardner took her first ever international five-for, 5-12, half of those runs coming from one defiant blow from Jess Kerr with the writing already on the wall. To sum up NZ’s fortunes, she was out to the very next delivery, and thje tenth and final wicket fell four balls later. NZ had scraped up a measly total of 76, going down by 97 runs.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Today’s usual sign off comes in two parts, first a general gallery and then a specific focus on the Egret that seems to have taken up residence in the environs of the Gaywood River.

These three pictures show the first Greylag Geese of the year.

Now for the Egret pics…