Australia made their fifth consecutive ICC Women’s World T20 final with a 71-run win against the hosts and defending champions the Windies on Thursday.
After Alyssa Healy picked up her fourth Player of the Match award, top-scoring with 46, the Australia bowlers smothered any challenge from the Windies, bowling them out for 71.
The 7000-odd home fans were disappointed as the Windies could go no further in a tournament where they have entertained, clinching some thrilling victories in the group stage. Australia will now face the winners of the second semi-final between India and England on Saturday 24 November.
The Windies seemed to have misread the pitch, as they continued to leave out the spin and experience of Anisa Mohammed when they won the toss and chose to bowl. But the surface offered both grip and turn, and Australia struggled to score freely. Their 35 for one in six overs was their lowest Powerplay score of the tournament.
Healy (46 off 38 balls, six fours, one six) showed why she is the in-form batter by finding ways to score even as captain Meg Lanning took her time at the other end. The wicket-keeper hit over the top when the length allowed, and at other times used the pace to score square of the wicket, crossing 200 tournament runs on the way. When she was dismissed at the end of the 12th over, she had set the tone for an acceleration.
Lanning (31 off 39 balls, two fours) was removed by Deandra Dottin in the 17th over, but Dottin’s quick bowling proved easier to score off, compounded by a lack of accuracy. Rachael Haynes (25 off 15 balls, four fours) took 16 runs of the 19th over bowled by Dottin, propping Australia to an above par 142-5. After scoring just 53 in their first 10 overs, Australia found 89 in the last 10.
The Windies had never scored more than 124 in a chase at home, so they needed energy in their start, but found exactly the opposite. They lost three wickets in the Powerplay, with two of those falling to Ellyse Perry, taking her T20I tally to 99.
She bowled Dottin in the third over – a wicket maiden – and then had Shemaine Campbelle caught at square leg, reducing the Windies to 26 for three in six overs.
Wickets continued to fall as Australia very effectively took the pace off the ball and allowed the slow pitch to do the rest. After being 44 for four in 10 overs with the required run rate close to 10, the Windies lost captain Stafanie Taylor for 16 (28 balls, one four) to end their realistic hopes of a win. No other batter got into double figures, with three bowlers taking two wickets apiece.
