Dropped catch, a fifer, a cameo cost India dearly; Australia win the tri-series final by 11 runs

Was it Beth Mooney's dropped catch when she was on 13 or was it Rachael Haynes cameo of 18 in 7 towards the end or was it Jess Jonassen's fifer that cost India the final of T20I tri-series at Melbourne on Wednesday? May be a combination of everything.

Going into the finals, it was even steven for Australia and India to have the last laugh. However, the hosts managed to get the better of Women in Blue as they sneaked in a 11-run victory. 

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia posted a respectable 155-6 in 20 overs, thanks to Beth Mooney's unbeaten knock of 71 (54), that included nine smooth hits to the fence. Ashleigh Gardner (26) and skipper Meg Lanning (26) played the second fiddle batting alongside Mooney to take Australia to a formidable score. Towards the end, vice captain Rachael Haynes smashed a seven ball 18, which included two boundaries and a massive six, to take her team past 150. The spinning duo of Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad scalped two wickets apiece.

In reply, India was bowled out for 144 in 20 overs. Child prodigy Shafali Verma was sent packing in the second over itself. Southpaw Smriti Mandhana showed her class yet again as she muscled 66 (37), smacking 12 boundaries. However, Mandhana could not find an able ally as the Indian batting failed to rise up to the occasion. For the Aussies it was slow left arm bowler Jess Jonassen, who wrecked havoc as she picked up 5-12 in her four overs.

As the Women's World T20 in Australia is just less than 10 days away, this tri-series would have helped Australia, England and India immensely.

Source: AFP

Australia knock out England to play India in the final of T20I tri-series

On Sunday, more than the Aussies perhaps the Women in Blue prayed and hoped for their victory as a win over England meant there was a higher chance of India making it to the finals.

In the last match of the league, England did a pretty good job to restict Australia to an achievable 132-7 in 20 overs. Riding on Beth Mooney's fluent half century, the hosts managed to go past 130-run mark. Sarah Glenn and Sophie Ecclestone were right on the money most of the times as they picked up two wickets apiece. 

With just 133 to get, England would have fancied their chances but the Australians had some other plans. 22 year old Sophie Molineux rattled the English batting order as she struck with 3-19 in her four overs. Giving her good support was Tayla Vlaeminck who picked up 2-18 in her four. England kept losing wickets at regular intervals which did not help their cause. Towards the end, Katherine Brunt (23 not out) and Laura Winfield (23) fought hard but failed to take their team home as they fell short of 16 runs.

The T20I tri-series was just the perfect starter before the ICC World T20 commences on February 21. The final of the tri-series will be played on Wednesday between India and Australia at Melborne.

Source: Getty Images

Shafali and Smriti steer India to a win against Australia; Women in Blue stay alive in the T20I tri-series

In a do or die match for India that was played on Saturday at Melbourne against Australia, the Women in Blue chased down a mammoth 174 in 20 overs to keep their hopes alive of making it to the finals of the tri-series. 

Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Indians gave away far too many runs to the Aussies as the hosts put on a formidable 173-5 in 20 overs, riding on Ashleigh Gardner's mellifluous 93. The Indian bowlers had no answers to the onslaught, as they were at the receiving end of some aggressive batting and powerful hitting. Offie Deepti Sharma, who opened the bowling picked up 2-27 and was the only bowler to concede less than seven runs in an over.

Chasing a mammoth total of 174 required a special batting performance from the Women in Blue, who looked low on confidence after their unsatisfactory batting effort on Friday against England. With the required run rate of 7.5, the Indians were expected to fire on all cylinders and go after the bowlers right from the word go. The openers did as the doctor prescribed and set the tone of the innings with an envious opening stand of 85 in just 8.2 overs. 16 year old Shafali Verma who was looking all good to score her third T20I half century in just 12 innings fell against the run of play as she was outdone by Ellyse Perry on 49. Mandhana (55) joined hands with another teenager Jemimah Rodrigues (30), who looked good during her short stay at the crease. Deepti Sharma (11 not out) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (20 not out) saw India through as India chased down the target in 19.4 overs, winning the match by seven wickets. Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt and Nicola Carey picked up one wicket apiece.

With just one match to go, the top two teams will face off in the finals on Wednesday. India will hope that the Aussies beat England to set up a final date with the hosts at Melbourne.

 
Source: Cricket Australia

India bear the "Brunt" as England win by four wickets

As the T20I tri-series among Australia, England and India looks evenly poised by the end of first round, a lot of fireworks are expected at the start of round two. On Friday, England and India locked horns against each other at Melbourne. Winning the toss and electing to field first, England restricted India to a paltry 123-6 in 20 overs. The English bowlers were extremely parsimonious as they refused to give away any freebies to the Women in Blue who seemed to be in all sorts of disarray. Apart from Smriti Mandhana (45) and Jemimah Rodrigues (23), none of the Indian batters looked comfortable against the strong English bowling attack. With more than 10 overs of dot balls, the Indians were found wanting. Anya Shrubsole (3-31) and Katherine Brunt (2-23) wrecked havoc with the ball as they managed to keep the Indians quiet. 

Chasing a modest 124 was never going to be difficult for the power-packed English batting line-up. Natalie Sciever (50) ensured that her team was in a comfortable position as she hit a fluent half century to keep the Indian bowlers at bay. Heather Knight and co. chased down the target in 18.5 overs, winning the match by four wickets. Left arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who opened the bowling for India scalped 3-23 in her four overs and was the pick of the bowlers. 

Going one down in the second round, India face the mighty Australians on Saturday in a do or die match at Melbourne. Will Australia shatter India's hopes of making it to the finals or will India come out all guns blazing? Only time will tell.

Source: AFP

India "Perry"ished as Australia beat India by four wickets

Riding on Ellyse Perry's all-round heroics, Australia registered its first win in the T20I tri-series as the home team beat India by four wickets on Sunday at Canberra.

Winning the toss and electing to field first, Australia reduced India to 103-9 in 20 overs, courtesy Ellyse Perry (4-19) and Tayla Vlaeminck (3-13), who wrecked havoc with the ball. India got off to a good start, the foundation of which was laid by southpaw Smriti Mandhana (35) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (28). However as these two got out, the rest of the Indian batting line up failed to put up a fight and collapsed like a pack of cards. The Aussies bowled quick and intimidated the Indians with their sharp lines and lengths.

Chasing a modest 104, Rachael Haynes and co. achieved the target in 18.5 overs, winning the match by four wickets. Ellyse Perry top scored with 49 (47) and received good support from Ashleigh Gardner (22). With the ball, Rajeshwari Gayakwad was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 2-18 in her four overs.

With the first round of the tri-series completed, Australia, England and India have managed to win one match each. The series seems to be evenly poised as the three sides have pocketed two points apiece. 

It will be interesting to see how the teams approach the second round robin that commences on February 7 when India take on England at Melbourne. England will look for redemption and India will hope to make it two in two as the two sides lock horn after a four day break.

Points Table

Teams	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	NR	Points	NRR
Australia	2	1	1	0	0	2	+0.220
India	2	1	1	0	0	2	-0.058
England	2	1	1	0	0	2	-0.172

Source: Cricbuzz



Source: Getty Images

Harmanpreet Kaur steers India to a 5-wicket win over England in the first T20 of the tri-series

With the ICC Women's World T20 just 20 days away, the preparations in all camps have gathered pace. The T20I tri-series among Australia, England and India comes at the right time to set the tone for the world championship to be held in Australia, the same venue for the tri-series.

The first match of the series was played between India and England on Friday at Canberra. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Women in Blue restricted England to 147-7 in 20 overs, courtesy a disciplined bowling effort. Left arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who opened the bowling was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 2-19 in her four overs. For England, it was skipper Heather Knight who stood out as she muscled a splendid innings of 67 (44). Tammy Beaumont gave her captain company as she struck a blistering 37 (27).

In reply, the Indians chased down the target in 19.3 overs winning the match comfortably by five wickets. The top order got off to starts but failed to capitalize as they were sent back at the half way stage. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur came to the centre and took the game away from the opposition as she scored a match winning 42 (34) and remained unbeaten to see her side home. 34-year old Katherine Brunt was the pick of the bowlers for England as she struck with 2-33 in 3.3 overs.

India will play its next match against Australia on Sunday, while England will lock horns against the hosts on Saturday and look to make a comeback.



Source: Getty Images

A good "Knight" for England as they thrash Aussies in a super over thriller

After facing defeat at the hands of India on Friday, England came back strong against the mighty Australians on Saturday at Canberra when the two teams locked horns against each other. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Australia restricted England to 156-4 in 20 overs. Riding on skipper Heather Knight's swashbuckling knock of 78 (45), the visitors posted a competitive score on board.

In reply, the Aussies gave a tough fight as the match ended in a tie, with the decider super over to be played to arrive at the final result of the match. Opening bat Beth Mooney, who completed 1000 T20I runs,  scored a delightful 65 (45) to take her team close to the English target but was sent packing by Natalie Sciver (3-23 in 4 overs) at the crucial stage of the game. Australia managed to score 156-8 in 20 overs.

Both the teams fought hard and the 20 overs could not decide the fate of the game, which meant that a super over was inevitable to arrive at the winner.

In the super over, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner managed to put up eight runs on the board as the left arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone decided to be very stingy with the ball. With nine runs required off six balls, Heather Knight led from the front and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

The wave of Super Over seems to have come to the trans Tasmanian shore as it saw back to back super over games being played in New Zealand (on Friday; India vs New Zealand) and Australia (on Saturday; England Women vs Australia Women). Why should boys have all the fun, right ladies?




Source: Mick Tsikas/AAP