Australia made a history in the Eves Cricket by clinching the hat-trick of titles in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 beating England, the champions of inaugural meet in 2009, by six wickets in a one sided final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here Sunday.
This is the third consecutive crown for Australia in the 4th version of the ICC Women’s T20 global meet after beating New Zealand in the final in 2010 in West Indies and defeating inaugural champions England in the 2012 final in Sri Lanka.
Chasing an easy target of 106 runs, the formidable Australian women’s team cantered to the match-winning 106 runs for 4 wickets in 15.1 overs, with 29 balls remaining.
In the day’s final, captain Meg Lanning led from the front to guide the team near victory scoring 30-ball 44 runs with four fours and two sixes before she offered an easy catch at mid-off to Heather Knight, off a Natalie Sciver delivery, leaving team total 104 for 3 in 14.4 overs.
Opener Jess Jonassen was the first Australian batter back to the pavilion scoring 15 runs off 10 balls with two fours and a six leaving team total 17 runs in 2.4 overs. She was followed by another opener Elyes Villani who made 17-ball 12 runs with one boundary with scoreboard showing 44 for 2 in 6.2 overs.
Number five Alex Blackwell was the 2nd victim of Natalie Sciver, who trapped Alex lbw for duck in the 15th over with just one run away from the Australia’s dream victory.
Two down Ellyse Perry remained unbeaten on 32-ball 31 runs with three fours and a six.
Natalie Sciver grabbed two wickets for 12 runs in her two over spell while Jenny Gunn and Anya Shrubsole took one wicket each for 13 and 29 runs respectively.
Sarah Coyte, who restricted England women for 105 runs, with her three- wicket haul for 16 runs in four overs, was adjudged the player of the final while Anya Shrubsole, who bowled consistently, named player of the series.
Earlier, sent into bat first, England women’s team cored 105 for 8 in stipulated 20 overs against Australia.
The English eves’ team lost the first wicket for 23 runs in 5.4 overs when their captain cum opening batter Charlotte Edwards was caught by Jess Cameron at mid-on, off a Sarah Coyte delivery, scoring 13 runs off 19 balls with two boundaries.
Sarah Coyte grabbed her second wicket, with England on 55 in 9.5 overs, trapping opener Sarah Taylor leg before when she tried to play reverse sweep. Taylor scored 18 runs off 35 balls with one boundary.
And soon thereafter, number four Lydia Greenway returned to the dressing room giving a low catch to wicket keeper Alyssa Healy, off a Ellyse Perry ball, making only 2 runs of 5 balls, leaving team total 58 for 3 in 10.5 overs.
One down Heather Knight contributed team highest 29 runs off 24 balls with three sixes before being caught by Ellyse Perry off Erin Osborne with England score at 67 for 4 in 12.5 overs.
Number six Amy Jones was the other English batter who reached double digit scoring run-a-ball 12 iwith one boundary.
In the last 4.1 overs, the English batters added only 16 runs losing three wickets and were forced to fold their innings cheaply at 101 for for 8 in 20 overs.
Sarah Coyte claimed three wickets for 16 runs in four overs, Ellyse Perry and Rene Farrell took two wickets each for 13 and 27 runs respectively, each bowling four overs. Erin Osborne grabbed the remaining wicket for 34 runs in three overs.
Source: UNbConenct
