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The line-up for the Super Six stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 was completed on a day which saw some outstanding performances with the bat and the ball.
The White Ferns finish top of Group A, England top of Group B
From Group A, New Zealand, Australia and the West Indies progressed to the Super Six stage with Haidee Tiffen’s side taking forward four carry-over points, Karen Rolton’s side two and Merissa Aguilleira’s side none, while from Group B, England, India and Pakistan qualified for the next stage with Charlotte Edwards’s side progressing with four carry-over points, India two and Pakistan none.
In the Super Six stage, the three sides in each group will now play the teams which have qualified from the other group from 14 to 19 March. The top two sides from the Super Six will go forward to the 22 March final while the third-fourth and fifth-sixth position play-offs will be staged on 21 March.
Marsh takes five to set up England win
At North Sydney Oval, England spinner Laura Marsh set up an eight-wicket victory for the two-time former champions when she recorded the fifth best bowling performance in the history of the ICC Women’s World Cup while claiming a career-best 5-15 as Pakistan was bowled out for 78 after being 51-1 at one stage.
In turn, the England batters hardly broke sweat as they achieved the victory target in 23.1 overs with the captain herself, Charlotte Edwards, hitting the winning boundary in her 32 not out.
Marsh, the 22-year-old from Kent who was later adjudged player-of-the-match, was delighted with her performance. “I am pleased with my performance as it’s always nice for the spinners to take wickets in ODIs. It was good that we bowled Pakistan out for a low total and the batters were able to knock off the runs comfortably.
Pakistan still qualify
Despite its second defeat, qualifier Pakistan marched into the Super Six stage after India defeated Sri Lanka by 35 runs in a low-scoring match at Bankstown Oval to notch up its second win.
The defeat has left Sri Lanka to play in the seventh-eighth position play-off against South Africa on Saturday, 14 March after both the teams finished winless from three matches.
Raj stars with bat
The highlight of the match was a superb batting performance by former captain Mithali Raj who scored more than half her team’s runs. The right-handed batter remained unbeaten on 75 (off 120 balls) as the 2005 World Cup runner-up managed a modest 137-7 in 50 overs after being reduced to 78-7 in 39.4 overs.
Sri Lanka needed quick runs but were rolled for 102
Sri Lanka, which needed to achieve victory in 45.5 overs to leapfrog Pakistan into third place in Group B, was bowled out for 102 runs with 5.4 overs to spare. Amita Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with 3-19.
Raj was happy that her performance came at a vital moment in the tournament. “It came at the right time. We did struggle in those initial overs when we were four down for 38 runs. So there was a lot of pressure. We tried to get as many runs as we could in those 50 overs.
“We are very relieved that we won this very close match. It’s still not going to be easy for us in the Super Six stage because we have tough sides like Australia and New Zealand, but I think we should play good cricket in the forthcoming three matches.
Indian Captain Goswami relieved
India captain Jhulan Goswami was relieved to win a close game. “Yeah, we are happy to get the win, but I’m not so happy with our batting. A score of 137 is very low, but our bowlers bowled superbly and stuck to the basics and I’m very happy with that.
“It’s important for us to play good cricket in the Super Six stage because each and every match is very important.”
White Ferns hammer South Africa
At the Bradman Oval, Bowral, the White Ferns hammered South Africa by 199 runs after Sunette Loubser’s team lost its last eight wickets for seven runs in 51 balls to be bowled out for only 51 in 22.2 overs while chasing 251 runs for victory.
It was the 20th lowest innings total in women’s ODIs and the ninth lowest total in World Cup history.
New Zealand vice-captain and off-spinner Aimee Mason and all-rounder Suzie Bates played havoc with the ball and shared four wickets apiece conceding two and seven runs respectively. Mason had figures of 4.2-2-2-4 while Bates had figures of 5-2-7-4
Career best figures for Mason
Mason, reflecting on her career-best bowling performance, said: “I wouldn’t say it was the best I have ever bowled but it was one of those days when everything comes off. You have to take it when it comes as it is not like that every day.
“We are really pleased with how we did today as we wanted to get to the Super Six stage with a bang. The team is on a real high and a lot of our supporters are over as well and it was a great atmosphere at the ground and awesome to take all of those wickets.”
Satterthwaite and McGlashan strike half-centuries
Earlier, New Zealand was rescued by fine half-centuries by Sara McGlashan, Amy Satterthwaite and Nicola Browne after it had slipped to 4-2 and then to 88-3 which soon became 111-5.
McGlashan remained unbeaten on 88 that came off 76 balls and included eight fours and a six while Browne belted seven fours in her 74-ball 51 not out. The two batters put on 139 runs for the undefeated sixth wicket stand from 23.2 overs. Satterthwaite scored at almost a run-a-ball in making 73 with 11 fours and held the top order together.
Australia beat West Indies to finish second in the pool
At Drummoyne, Australia beat the West Indies by 47 runs to finish second behind New Zealand and ahead of the West Indies.
Perry’s all-round performance the difference
Ellyse Perry was the star performer for the defending champion when she followed up her rapid 36, in Australia’s 211-7, with 2-28 to win the player of the match award. Perry received good support from Erin Osborne (2-22) and Lisa Sthalekar (2-32).
Deandra Dottin was the only West Indies batter to play with some degree of confidence while scoring 51, including four sixes, in her team’s 164-7.
“There are expectations for the number one ranked team to beat lesser ranked teams, but it’s been very positive to see how teams have stepped us against us. I actually think West Indies and South Africa have had two good games against us,” said Australia vice-captain Alex Blackwell.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 78 (Nain Abidi 27, Bismah Maroof 13; Laura Marsh 5-15, Charlotte Edwards 2-2, Katherine Brunt 2-25)England 82-2 (Charlotte Edwards 32 not out)
* England won by eight wickets
Australia 211-7 (Alex Blackwell 46 not out, Shelley Nitschke 45, Jidoe Fields 42, Ellyse Perry 35; Shakera Selman 2-28, Stafanie Taylor 2-35, Anisa Mohammed 2-45) West Indies 164-7 (Deandra Dottin 51, Stafanie Taylor 32; Erin Osborne 2-22, Ellyse Perry 2-28, Lisa Sthalekar 2-32)
* Australia won by 47 runs
India 137-7 (Mithali Raj 75 not out, Jhulan Goswami 24 not out; Chamari Polgampola 2-17, Udeshika Prabodani 2-20, Suwini de Alwis 2-34)Sri Lanka 102 (Dedunu de Silva 21, Eshani Lokusooriya 20; Amita Sharma 3-19, Rumeli Dhar 2-10, Gouher Sultana 2-16)
* India won by 35 runs
New Zealand 250-5 (Sara McGlashan 88 not out, Amy Satterthwaite 73, Nicola Browne 51 not out; Charlize van der Westhuizen 2-18, Alicia Smith 2-58) South Africa 51 (Cri-Zelda Brits 25; Aimee Mason 4-2, Suzie Bates 4-7)
* New Zealand won by 199 runs
