India beat Australia by 16 runs
India left Australia with a mountain to climb when it beat the defending champion by 16 runs in a crucial Super Six stage match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 at the North Sydney Oval on Saturday.
In a repeat of the 2005 World Cup final, India put up a methodical batting performance to score 234-5 in 50 overs, including 87 runs in the last 10 overs. Left-handed opener Anjum Chopra top scored with 76 and was well supported by Anagha Deshpande (45) and Mithali Raj (44).
In its run-chase, Australia made a solid start but was later tied in the knots by India bowlers who were well backed-up by smart fielding. The home team finished at 218-7 in 50 overs and 16 runs short of the target.
The victory gave India two vital points and put it on four points, while the defeat has left Australia in fourth place on two points.
England on track for final after victory over White Ferns
In a battle between former champions at the Bankstown Oval, England recovered from a difficult start to beat the White Ferns by 31 runs to strengthen its chances of reaching its first final in 16 years.
Captain Charlotte Edwards produced one of her most memorable performances of her career when she first top scored with a fine 57 (off 79 balls with five fours) to guide her team to a competitive 201-5 in 50 overs. She then returned outstanding bowling figures of 8.4-1-37-4 as New Zealand collapsed from 53-1 to 126-7 before being bowled out for 170 in 48.1 overs.
The victory has put England on top of the table on six points with New Zealand and India on four points.
Pakistan too good for the West Indies
At the Drummoyne Oval, fast bowler Almas Akram and Armaan Khan combined to guide Pakistan to a four- wicket victory over the West Indies. It was Pakistan’s second World Cup win in nine matches with both the wins coming in this current tournament
Almas produced a brilliant bowling performance when she broke the back of the West Indies top order to finish with figures of 7-4-7-3 as the West Indies was restricted to 132-9 in 50 overs. Armaan then led Pakistan’s run-chase and returned unbeaten on a 48-ball 43 not out with three fours and two sixes as the green shirts cantered home with 13 balls to spare.
South Africa win seventh-eighth play-off
In the seventh-eighth position play-off at the North Sydney Oval No 2, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets after Sri Lanka’s batting woes continued as it was bowled out for 75 all out in 39 overs after electing to bat first.
South Africa, in turn, achieved victory in 28.3 overs with Trisha Chetty (41 not out) and Cri-Zelda Brits (31 not out) putting on 72 runs for the unbroken second wicket partnership.
Scores in brief:
India 234-5 (Anjum Chopra 76, Anagha Deshpande 45, Mithali Raj 44, Amita Sharma 31 not out; Lisa Sthalekar 3-52) Australia 218-7 (Alex Blackwell 54, Jodie Fields 43, Lauren Ebsary 39 not out, Jessica Cameron 25, Rene Farrell 20 not out; Gouher Sultana 2-33, Reema Malhotra 2-32)
* India won by 16 runs
England 201-5 (Charlotte Edwards 57, Beth Morgan 37 not out, Caroline Atkins 36, Jenny Gunn 22 not out; Sophie Devine 2-45) New Zealand 170 (Haidee Tiffen 53, Aimee Mason 23, Sarah Tsukiwaga 23 not out; Charlotte Edwards 4-37, Laura Marsh 2-21, Katherine Brunt 2-25)
* England won by 31 runs
West Indies 132-9 (Stafanie Taylor 55, Deandra Dottin 23; Almas Akram 3-7, Urooj Mumtaz 2-31)Pakistan 134-6 (Armaan Khan 43 not out, Urooj Mumtaz 22)
* Pakistan won by four wickets
Sri Lanka 75 (Suwini de Alwis 24; Dane van Niekerk 3-11, Charlize van der Westhuizen 2-16)South Africa 76-1 (Trisha Chetty 41 not out, Cri-Zelda Brits 31 not out)
* South Africa won by nine wickets