Today’s Women’s World Cup matches went exactly as expected. No surprises this Sunday. Australia brushed Sri Lanka aside, reaching their seventh World Cup final, and England scored a double whammy, thrashing South Africa to keep their slim hopes alive and boosting their net run-rate in the process.
Today, it was Erin Osborne, with three for nine, and Rachael Haynes, with 71 not out in 61 balls, who grabbed the headlines but Australia’s quick bowlers again did serious damage. Ellyse Perry, we are told, will be fit to play the West Indies on Wednesday but with Julie Hunter, Holly Ferling and Megan Schutt playing so well, she has hardly been missed.
Ferling has been a revelation. It is not unusual for women to be given their chances as teenagers (Charlotte Edwards debuted at 16, Shaquana Quintyne and Holly Colvin at 15), but she has had to do it on the biggest stage, replacing arguably the game’s biggest star. With players like her – and Renee Chappell – able to come in and perform immediately, things look very rosy for Australia indeed.
Sri Lanka have probably already played their two World Cup finals, beating England and India in the first group stage but they will be disappointed with today’s performance. It is not often they get a chance to take on Australia (this was just their third encounter, and first since the 2005 World Cup). They will have relished the chance to test themselves again against top-class opposition and despite the hefty defeat, will hopefully be able to use the experience as a barometer of where they need to aim for.
Likewise South Africa, who never threatened to repeat the shock upsets they have produced over England in 1997, 2000 (three times), 2003 and 2004, will hope to take something from today’s game ahead of their showdown with Sri Lanka in their final Super Six game.
It was essential for England to win this game and win it as well as possible as whether or not they progress to the final could well rely on their net run-rate. (Please click here for Martin Davies’ excellent analysis of this). They duly rolled South Africa for 77 – their third-lowest ODI score and lowest against England – and scored their runs at almost nine per over, knocking off a seven-wicket victory.
If Ferling has been a revelation this tournament, then Anya Shrubsole’s progression to England’s lead wicket-taker has also been a welcome development for the world champions. She was outstanding against Australia, and almost won the game with the bat, and here again she was brilliant, dismissing South Africa’s top five players. Although the likes of Dane van Niekerk are capable enough on their day, this was definitely not their day.
Danielle Wyatt chipped in with three wickets, which might boost her confidence after an indifferent run at the top of the order, although she could then only make 14. With Edwards (6) and Sarah Taylor (0) also out cheaply, it was left to Lydia Greenway and Arran Brindle to complete England’s victory.
What does it mean then? England are now level on points with New Zealand and the West Indies but with an inferior run-rate. This puts them at a disadvantage. With New Zealand and the West Indies meeting tomorrow, whichever of those sides wins will change the complexion completely going into the final round.
It is not a given that England will beat New Zealand on current form. It probably is that Australia will beat the West Indies, unless they choose to rest some key players. My reading of the table is that it doesn’t really matter who wins tomorrow because England are simply going to have to beat New Zealand on Wednesday, hope that Australia keep on winning and then that they can overturn the net run-rate deficit.
Australia might have run away with things at the top, but at least the battle to join them in the final is a compelling one. It is exactly what the tournament needed.
Update: This is a very important point too:
#wwc13 – Huge game tomorrow WI v NZ – If Windies win they will have their destiny in their own hands v Aus (who do not need to win!?!)
— Martin Davies (@wmnscricketblog) February 10, 2013