Hosts try to end campaign on a high

Australia will try to end a disappointing World Cup campaign on a high when it takes on India on Saturday at Bankstown in the 3rd/4th play-off.

It will be trying to avenge a defeat last weekend which effectively destroyed its chances of reaching Sunday’s final.

India, who missed out on the final after defeats to England and New Zealand, will be hoping to continue its excellent bowling performance on Thursday that saw it dismiss the West Indies for 84 all out.

In Saturday’s other game, Pakistan and West Indies will contest the 5th/6th play-off final at Drummoyne.

Both England and New Zealand will train today ahead of tomorrow’s final at North Sydney Oval.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 5:23:55 PM

India beats Australia by three wickets in third-fourth position play-off

India recorded its second successive victory over Australia when it defeated the dethroned world champions by three wickets in the third-fourth play-off at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 at Bankstown Oval on Saturday. 

In a match reduced to 46-over-a-side, due to rain, Australia was all out for 142 in 44.4 overs. India reached the victory target with 13 balls and three wickets to spare. 

Batting first after winning the toss, Australia was in trouble at 27-2 when heavy rain came down and stopped play. When the match resumed, the umpires decided to reduce the match to 46 overs per side but Australia plunged into deeper trouble when play started as it slipped to 63-5 in 27 overs. 


At that stage, captain Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar rescued their side with a gutsy 60-run partnership that allowed the home team to reach 144 all out in 44.4 overs. Rolton finished as the top scorer with a fine 52 that came off 93 balls and included a six and a four while Sthalekar contributed 30 from 32 balls with two fours.


For India, wickets were evenly shared between Jhulan Goswami (2-21), Priyanka Roy (2-21), Rumeli Dhar (2-24) and Gouher Sultana (2-27).

India, in its target chase, put together small but useful partnerships to achieve the target in 43.5 overs. Sulakshana Naik finished as the top scorer with 28 while Rumeli Dhar chipped in with a priceless 24 not out. 

In the fifth-sixth play-off, the West Indies avenged for its four-wicket defeat last Saturday when it defeated Pakistan by three wickets in the fifth-sixth play-off. By virtue of this win, the West Indies retained its fifth-placed ranking while Pakistan jumps from eighth to sixth spot. 

The star of the match was West Indies’ Shanel Daley who claimed her career-best 4-29 to dismiss Pakistan for 131 all out in 46.3 overs. She then returned to contribute 24 with the bat as the West Indies achieved victory with 3.3 overs to spare.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 5:54:49 AM

England and New Zealand ready for final showdown

Kiwis have noses ahead after winning 29 out of 49 matches to date; Haidee Tiffen aims to win her second World Cup while rival captain Charlotte Edwards searches for her first title

Belinda Clark heads selection panel which will decide player of the tournament and ICC Team of the Tournament

Photos from the training sessions of the two teams and captains’ photo with the trophy available for free download from the ICC FTP site

Former champions England and New Zealand will try to add another title to its collection when they square-off in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 in front of the ESPN STAR Sports cameras at North Sydney Oval, Sydney.

England has won the World Cup twice – the inaugural tournament in 1973 on its home turf and then in 1993 when it defeated New Zealand in the final by 67 runs – while New Zealand’s only success has come in 2000 in its backyard when it beat Australia in a dramatic final by four runs.


The two teams have previously met 49 times with New Zealand winning 29 matches and England 18. Their first match against each other in the 1982 World Cup ended in a tie after both the sides finished on 147 at Auckland while one match was abandoned.

The two sides have qualified for the much-awaited final after finishing in the top two of the Super Six stage. After winning their respective groups, both the sides lost one match each in the Super Six stage – England defeating New Zealand by 31 runs last week before losing to Australia by eight wickets on Thursday.

The two teams have showed a lot of flare, aggression, method and purpose behind their performances in the last couple of weeks which is evident from their convincing victories. New Zealand defeated defending champion Australia by 13 runs (D/L Method), West Indies by 56 runs, South Africa by 199 runs, India by five wickets and Pakistan by 223 runs while England also beat Sri Lanka by 100 runs, India by nine wickets, Pakistan by eight wickets and the West Indies by 146 runs.

The players of the two sides are also peaking at the right time with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates clobbering 19 fours and six sixes in a 105-ball 168 against Pakistan on Thursday. She is the second leading run-getter in the tournament after England’s Claire Taylor who has scored 303 runs to date, including a century against Sri Lanka and an unbeaten 69 against India.

Other in-form New Zealand batters include captain Haidee Tiffen, who has scored 249 runs, Amy Satterthwaite (162) and Sara McGlashan (153) while for England openers Caroline Atkins (211) and Sarah Taylor (177) have shown remarkable consistency at the top of the order while captain Charlotte Edwards, ICC’s Women’s Player of the Year in 2008, has yet to find her magical touch despite scoring 127 runs.

England’s Laura Marsh has undoubtedly been the find of the tournament. The 22-year-old off-spinner from Kent has taken 14 wickets so far at an average of 9.28 while New Zealand vice-captain Aimee Mason is her side’s most successful bowler with nine wickets at an average of 14.33.

The two sides had their final workouts on Saturday morning ahead of Sunday’s final and both the captains were confident and excited in their pre-match press conferences.

Haidee Tiffen said: “We are really excited about tomorrow’s game and have been working extremely hard over the last couple of weeks. At the same time, we have been improving on our overall performance on the way.”

“We have been learning as we went along and we have made sure we have given our players plenty of opportunity. That game against Pakistan was great as we got a good hit out.”

Tiffen, who has scored 2,889 runs in 116 ODIs and will equal Maia Lewis’ record of captaining New Zealand in most ODIs (45) on Sunday, said her team would not only depend on Bates. “Against Pakistan, Suzie batted the best I have ever seen of her. She is an outstanding player for us but there were some other good performances on that day and all through the tournament.

“Look, you will be nervous if you are not nervous. There will be some nerves around - that is a positive thing. But it’s all about how you channelize those nerves.”

Haidee, who was also a member of the New Zealand side that won the title in 2000, refused to be drawn into comparing the present side with Emily Drumm’s side. “The memories of the 2000 World Cup are very close to my heart. It is certainly the highlight of my career. Whilst the teams are different, certainly the passion, commitment and pride for our country are evident in both the teams. We are looking forward to (Sunday’s) occasion and the girls have been doing very well.”

In sharp contrast, Charlotte Edwards has been in the three previous semi-finals but will be making her first appearance in the final. She is not only her country’s most experienced player with 123 caps, she is also the most successful batter with 3,647 runs.

Edwards said Sunday’s match would be the biggest match of her career. “I have played in a lot of big games but never in a World Cup final. I am looking forward to tomorrow which will be the biggest game of my career. The World Cup comes only after four years and I think I am lucky to be in the final after three semi-finals,” she said.

“Hopefully, Claire Taylor’s and my experience will see the girls through tomorrow. The good thing about our team is we have youngsters and all they know is success at the moment. It is a good mixture of youth and experience and we have been telling the youngsters to just enjoy the day as not many people play in a World Cup final.

“Yesterday was quite a long day, having a day off. But yes, there is excitement today and we are just ready to play cricket. This is something we have worked towards for a number of years now and we can’t wait for tomorrow to happen and get underway.

“Tomorrow’s match will be all about which team handles the pressure better and whose key players perform. These are two very good and evenly matched teams and the team that plays best cricket on Sunday will win the match.

“On Thursday (against Australia), there was a minor blip but we have been playing good cricket. We have a lot of confidence and are going along nicely.”

Match referee Brian Aldridge will lead the playing control team on Sunday. Steve Davis of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Brian Jerling of the International Panel will be the on-field umpires while Tyron Wijewardena has been named as third umpire and Jeff Brookes will be the fourth umpire.

The player of the tournament will be announced on Sunday while the ICC Team of the Tournament will be named on Monday by a five-member selection panel that includes Belinda Clark, Brian Aldridge, Danny Morrison, Kathy Cross and Allison Mitchell.

Squads: 

New Zealand – Haidee Tiffen (captain), Aimee Mason (vice-captain), Suzie Bates, Nicola Browne, Abby Burrows, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan, Beth McNeill, Katey Martin, Rachel Priest, Kate Pulford, Amy Satterthwaite, Sarah Tsukigawa.

England – Charlotte Edwards (captain), Caroline Atkins, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Lydia Greenway, Lauren Griffiths, Isa Guha, Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh, Beth Morgan, Ebony Rainsford-Brent, Nicola Shaw, Anya Shrubsole, Claire Taylor, Sarah Taylor.

Match referee: Brian Aldridge

Umpires: Steve Davis and Brian Jerling

Third umpire: Tyron Wijewardena

Fourth umpire: Jeff Brookes

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 4:22:56 AM

Daley delighted with career-best figures

Shanel Daley was delighted after winning the Player of the Match Award for the West Indies against Pakistan.

 Daley took career best figures of 4-29 as the West Indies recorded a dramatic three-wicket win over Pakistan in the 5th/6th Play-Off.

“I surprised myself how well I bowled today as I didn’t start that well, but it developed into something good,” said Daley, the daughter of former Jamaican player Aaron Daley.

Although she had hoped that the West Indies would improve on its ranking of five in the world, she was still proud of her side’s efforts.

“I am very proud of the team and our performance. I don’t think we had a great tournament, as I think we could have done better, but that is how it goes,” said Daley.

“I am happy that we maintained our faith, as we haven’t been on the international scene for a while, so I am proud how we came back.”

Daley admitted she has greatly enjoyed her World Cup experience and is keen to gain more experience in Australia to further her cricket education.

“I love Australia and I am hoping to come back next summer to play some club cricket. It has been an amazing experience and I wouldn’t give it up for anything,” she said.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 4:03:02 AM

India captures third place after thrilling victory

India sealed third-place at the ICC Women’s World Cup after a tremendous three-wicket victory over Australia.

In a repeat of the 2005 Final, Australia stumbled its way to 144 all out, in a rain affected innings, with only Karen Rolton (52) and Lisa Sthalekar (30) making any score of note.

India’s bowling display was extremely impressive from the first over, when Jhulan Goswami bowled Leah Poulton, with the wickets shared around the Indian attack.

Sthalekar and Erin Osborne then combined to put India in all kinds of trouble at 104-7, but a 41-run partnership between Rumeli Dhar (24 not out) and Jhulan Goswami (18 not out) helped the side to a brilliant victory.

This was India’s second consecutive victory over Australia, having also beaten them in the Super Six stages.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 3:56:01 AM

England aims to secure place in final

England goes into Tuesday’s match against the West Indies looking to secure a place in the ICC Women’s World Cup Final.
Knowing a win will guarantee it a place in Sunday’s final, England has been the team to beat at this event, and they have certainly impressed Australian legend Belinda Clark.

“England has played really well and I think they came to this tournament as favourites. As much as people were saying that Australia and New Zealand have played a lot of good cricket is true, but England comes with more experience than any other squad at this tournament, and have players in the top places in the rankings. Whether they can sustain it will be interesting as now the favourites tag is on them they will have to learn to cope with that pressure,” said Clark.

England has won three out of the five matches played between the side, with one loss in 1979 and one no result, and it comfortably won the last match between the two sides by 10 wickets on a green, seaming wicket at Loughborough last year.

In today’s other match, a repeat of the Women’s World Cup semi-final in 2005, India takes on New Zealand.

Both teams know that victory will go a long way towards claiming a spot in Sunday’s final, with New Zealand going into the match on a four-match winning streak against India in ODI games, although Jhulan Goswami’s side did win the friendly warm-up game between the two sides ahead of the tournament.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News -Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:22:06 PM

Pulford puts New Zealand a step closer to big day

A brilliant all-round performance from Kate Pulford helped New Zealand take a step closer to the ICC Women’s World Cup Final.

Two wickets and a sparkling 71 from 88 balls helped her side to a five-wicket win over India with 14 balls to spare and the Player of the Match Award.

Earlier half centuries from Reema Malhotra (59) and Anjum Chopra (52) rescued India’s innings as it posted a total of 207 all out of 49.4 overs.

Having been 83-4 and 126-6 this represented a solid recovery, in a keenly contested battle between two of the event favourites.

Sophie Devine and Kate Pulford both took two wickets, but Reema Malhotra’s powerful hitting transformed the innings as she struck eight boundaries in her 53-ball innings.

Pulford (71) and Tiffen (28) provided a solid opening partnership of 78, before Pulford finally fell when the score was 109.

A regular fall of wickets provided India with hope, but an excellent innings from Suzie Bates (47 not out) and Aimee Mason (23 off 16 balls) helped it comfortably reach its target.

New Zealand now faces Pakistan on Thursday knowing a win will guarantee its place in the ICC Women's World Cup Final. 

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News -Tuesday, March 17, 2009 2:30:00 AM