My headline statement yesterday was that India has home advantage, and Australia must play their A game in a semi-final knock-out, but the Aussies were disappointing in all three diceiplines whilst India proved to be the better team that deserves a place in the finals ahead of Australia..
Pertinent Question that will bug Cricket Australia and their fan base as to the fitness of Alyssa Healy, the dropped catches, the 2 run outs , and the wrong areas their bowlers bowled , and why they could not bat India out-of the game after being 1 wicket for 180 in 27.2 overs, and for Pebeheo Litchfield to throw her wicket thinking her job was done after scoring 119 off 93 deliveries and importantly having Elysa Perry to keep her company. Honestly, it’s absolute brain break and lack of match awareness.
Was Alyssa Healy fit enough to play with her calf injury? She was out for 5. her feet not moving to the pitch of the ball. She dropped a simple catch off player of the match Jemima Rodriguez when she was in her 80s. Her only credible performance was getting the aid of the DRS to send back the dangerous Mandhana to the hutch .
The run out of Talua Magrath with the score on 265 for 5 wickets in the 41st over dented their score.
Jemima Rodriguez was put down again by Talia McGrath when she was on 109, simplest of catches. Wonder if the Australians were catching or someone else emulating them.
India, in pursuit of 339, looked always in control because of the batting conditions and the dew factor.
The 167 partnership between skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemima Rodriguez for the 3rdh wicket sealed the game for India.
Australia not only dropped catches, but bowled very poorly to both sides of the wickets, and into wrong areas whilst all-rounder Sutherland had a poor effort with the bat, and was expensive giving away 63 runs in her 10 over spell.
Main scores
Australia 338 all out.
Pebeheo Litchfield 119
Elysa Perry 77
Ash Gardner 63
Charini 2 for 48
Deepthi Sharma 2 for 73
India 341 for 5
Jemima Rodriguez 127
Harmanprit Kaur 89
Sutherland 2 for 63.
Kim Garth 2 for 48