wellington: Australia booked their place in the ICC The Women’s World Cup final with a dominant 157-run win over the West Indies after Alyssa Healy’s warring century was topped off by the bowlers here on Wednesday.
Meg Lanning’s side were at their best with the bat, with Healy making 129 and adding 216 for the first wicket with Haynes (85), to post a massive 305 for three from 45 overs in a rain-limited semi-final .
The West Indies never looked forward to getting close in their pursuit. Captain Stafanie Taylor was her side’s top scorer with 48 out of a total of 148, marking the division gap between the two semi-finalists.
The game started an hour and 45 minutes late after thick fog and drizzle gave way to sunshine and the game was scrapped with 10 overs.
Australia was undeterred by the fast bowlers of the West Indies coming in on a green wicket in the bleak Basin Reverse and making 37 runs in the power play.
Healy took his time to get going and made only 10 from 25 balls in the first 10 overs, but then accelerated to increase her fifty from 63 balls.
Her second fifty would yield just 28 balls as she scored a first World Cup hundred.
Healy eventually left for 129 of 107 balls, including 17 fours and one six, as the West Indies held on to their first catch of the day with substitute Shakera Selman, before the injured Anisa Mohammed, who dove in.
A mini-fight ensued as Chinelle Henry took two wickets in an over, with Haynes going first for 85 from 100 before Ashleigh Gardner’s promotion from seventh to third ended on 12 runs as the West Indies dragged Australia back to 235 for three.
However, Lanning and Beth Mooney were there to steady the ship, the two batters with the highest averages in the tournament, taking Australia past 300, the highest score ever in a World Cup knockout match.
In response, the West Indies got off to another steady start, led by Deandra Dottin, but soon lost their first wicket as Rashada Williams went for a 10-ball duck, while Mooney held a stunning hold of Megan Schutt’s bowling.
Annabel Sutherland did what the Windies couldn’t, holding on safely to a loop catch at long-on to fire Dottin for 34.
Hayley Matthews fell for the same score as Jess Jonassen took the first wicket of spin for the day with her fourth ball, Alana King held on to an ill-timed shot half way through.
Matthews’ wicket didn’t bring the West Indies to life as they dropped to 91 for three in 22.4 overs. Taylor was joined by Shemaine Campbelle as the required run rate climbed above 10 per over.
Sutherland came in with a wicket as Campbelle sent a delivery straight to Jonassen to leave before eight.
Chedean Nation came out intending to crack a six from her first ball, but could only add more before being ridden by Healy.
Kycia Knight followed for a two-ball duck as Jonassen moved to 10 tournament wickets and reduced the West Indies to 126 for six.
Gardner then tried to catch Jonassen making her ninth of the World Cup to fire Ramharack LBW a ball after being dropped by Sutherland.
Taylor eventually left for 48 of 74, with four fours, bringing the West Indian innings and run in the tournament to a close when the injured Mohammed and ailing Henry were prevented from taking the field.
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