Australia’s teenage ladies cricket prospects have been left reflecting ruefully on a irritating three-run defeat of their Under-19 Twenty20 World Cup semi-final with England.
Rhys McKenna’s Aussies had regarded set to ease dwelling to victory on Friday and arrange a date with India within the inaugural closing of the ICC occasion in Potchefstroom, South Africa, after they skittled England for simply 99 and had been shifting alongside easily sufficient at 3-48.
But Australia suffered a collapse, dropping their subsequent 4 wickets for simply 11 earlier than Amy Smith, specifically, gave them most hope together with her run-a-ball 26.
Legspinner Hannah Baker (3-10) proved the architect of England’s win with three fast wickets, bowling Ella Hayward, getting captain McKenna caught at mid-off after which trapping wicketkeeper Paris Hall three balls later.
In a dramatic end, boundaries from Ella Wilson and Milly Illingworth left Australia needing simply 4 off 17 balls, with two wickets nonetheless standing.
But Illingworth was run out through a direct hit from Ryana MacDonald-Gay from mid-off earlier than No.11 Maggie Clark acquired trapped lbw by offspinner Grace Scrivens with eight balls left and simply 96 on the board.
“No-one likes losing, especially in the semi-final,” sighed Melbourne Stars’ prospect McKenna.
“Losing bulk wickets in a short period of time is what cost us. Our bowling has been exceptional, but the batting hasn’t been good enough at times.”
It felt, although, like a win that had actually acquired away for Australia, as they’d begun fantastically, lowering England to 7-45.
But they let England off the hook considerably as a 46-run partnership between Alexa Stonehouse and Josie Groves helped convey some respectability to their complete.
Fine bowling from Clark (3-15), Hayward (3-25) and Sianna Ginger (3-13) nonetheless handed Australia the initiative however it finally proved not fairly sufficient.
In the opposite semi, India eased previous a New Zealand facet which had been beforehand unbeaten, successful by eight wickets after they restricted the Kiwis to 9-107 earlier than reaching their goal of 2-110 of simply 14.2 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 61 from Shweta Sehrawat.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
