Ashleigh Gardner shone first with the ball in hand in a disciplined bowling display and then chipped in with the bat in hand as Australia thrashed West Indies in a one-sided contest to win by 8 wickets with 7 overs to spare to storm into their 8th T20 World Cup final. Ashleigh Gardner was miserly with the ball as she picked up 2/13 in 4 overs and others chipped in after West Indies were told to bat first and were restricted to 125/7 in 20 overs with a few starts from some of the batters.
In reply, Australia chasing 126 for the win rode on an excellent unbeaten half-century from Beth Mooney and an unbeaten 35 off 20 balls from Ashleigh Gardner enabled Australia to chase this target down in 13 overs as the 6-time champions completely outclassed the 2016 champions at the Oval, in London.
Disciplined bowling display led by Ashleigh Gardner restricts West Indies to 125/7 in 20 overs
Put into bat first, captain Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph came out to open for West Indies while Lucy Hamilton started the proceedings for Australia. Before the match could get underway, we saw Deandra Dottin being carried off as after the anthem, she had collapsed and was indisposed for quite a while and it meant she had to come down the order. Coming back to the match, it was a solid start from captain Hayley Matthews as she began enterprisingly.
But it was a struggle for Qiana Joseph who just could not time the ball at all. It meant West Indies could not get off to a flier while Matthews was maintaining good tempo. West Indies did not lose a wicket in the power play no doubt, but they mustered only 35 runs in that and that was below par against this Australian side. The openers played out 8 overs and put on 47 runs for the first wicket before Matthews fell for 30 off 28 balls with 5 fours to his name to Georgia Wareham who cleaned her up.
Keeper batter Shemaine Campbelle came out to bat next and showed some intent out there from the word go as she showed some intent out there. The duo added 8 runs for the second wicket before Joseph’s misery was over as she fell for 16 off 22 balls with one six to her name to captain Sophie Molineux. Stafanie Taylor came out to bat next. Taylor did not last long either as just 4 runs were added to the tally before Taylor fell for a silver duck to Ashleigh Gardner.
Jahzara Claxton came out to bat next. Gardner got two in the over as Claxton fell for a bronze duck. Chinelle Henry came out to bat next. Henry and Campbelle tried to forge some sort of partnership after those quick wickets and put on 14 runs for the 5th wicket before Henry fell for 10 off 11 balls with one four to her name to Sophie Molineux. Jannillea Glasgow came out to bat next. Just 10 runs were added to the tally before Campbelle fell for 22 off 25 balls with 3 fours to her name to Wareham.
At 83/6, finally Deandra Dottin walked out to bat having recovered as she came in the 16th over. Glasgow and Dottin then got together and it was Dottin who put on a show and played the cameo and finishing kick West Indies needed. She took the attack to the Aussies and scored a quickfire 26 off 16 balls. Glasgow supported her as well as the duo put on 42 runs in the last 27 balls for the 7th wicket before Glasgow fell for 15 off 13 balls with one four to her name to Annabel Sutherland.
Dottin was unbeaten on 26 off 16 balls with 4 fours to her name as West Indies finished with a paltry 125/7 in 20 overs. 6 extras given by the fielding side.
Ashleigh Gardner was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/13 in 4 overs. Georgia Wareham supported her well with figures of 2/17 in 4 overs. Sophie Molineux the captain finished with 2/30 in 4 overs. Annabel Sutherland finished with 1/26 in 3 overs. Lucy Hamilton finished with 0/9 in 2 overs while Kim Garth finished with 0/28 in 4 overs. This meant that Australia needed 126 runs to win off 20 overs for a place in the finals.
Beth Mooney’s unbeaten half-century & Ashleigh Gardner’s finishing kick takes Australia over the lineÂ
Chasing 126 for the win, Georgia Voll and keeper batter Beth Mooney came out to bat for Australia while Chinelle Henry had the ball in hand for West Indies. Australia got off to a flier with both Voll and Mooney getting off and running and putting pressure on the opposition. Voll got a start and Mooney was also up and running. The duo put on 29 inside 3 overs before Voll fell for 16 off 11 balls with 2 fours and one six to her name to Chinelle Henry who cleaned her up. Phoebe Litchfield came out to bat next.
Mooney just carried on her merry ways and was like a runaway train. The duo tried to forge a partnership and added 14 runs for the second wicket before Litchfield fell for 4 off 5 balls to Hayley Matthews, the West Indies captain. Ellyse Perry came out to bat next. But these wickets falling didn’t affect Mooney at all.
She was doing all the scoring himself while Perry was a spectator. The power play score at the end of 6 overs was 63/2 in 6 overs. The duo of Mooney and Perry added 21 runs for the second wicket before Perry walked off with a niggle retired hurt for 2 off 7 balls. Ashleigh Gardner came out to bat next. This was the last piece of success West Indies would have now.
Beth Mooney carried on and Gardner got her eye in with the required rate not a problem at all. Thereafter, the duo showed their class and sent a statement to the others that their team means business. Mooney and Gardner complimented each other really well and maintained a good tempo as well. Mooney completed her half-century while Gardner grew better and better fresh from her exploits against India at Lord’s. The duo put on 63 runs unbeaten for the third wicket and took the side home.
Gardner hit the winning runs for a boundary while Mooney was there at the other end. Mooney was unbeaten on 61 off 36 balls with 8 fours to her name while Gardner was unbeaten on 35 off 20 balls with 4 fours and one six to her name as Australia finished off the chase in 13 overs finishing with 127/2. 9 extras given by the fielding side.
For the West Indies, it was a case of not enough runs on the board. Chinelle Henry finished with 1/20 in 2 overs while Hayley Matthews finished with 1/23 in 3 overs. Karishma Ramharack finished with 0/17 in 2 overs. Jahzara Claxton finished with 0/18 in 1 over. Aaliyah Alleyne finished with 0/22 in 3 overs. Afy Fletcher finished with 0/25 in 2 overs. So, Australia thrashed West Indies by 8 wickets with 7 overs to spare to advance to their 8th T20 World Cup final. Ashleigh Gardner for her all-round performance was adjudged the Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead
So, Australia are in the finals at Lord’s, London. Who will join them? We shall find out soon as the second semi-final takes place on Thursday night at 11 PM IST as the host nation and 2009 champions England faces South Africa multiple runners up finishes at the Oval in London on July 2nd, i.e. Thursday. Which team will come out on top? Only time will tell as this match can go either ways.
Also Read:Â AUS VS WI: Australia Aims To Reach Their 8th T20 WC Final.