New Zealand upsets defending champion as West Indies takes giant step forward by defeating South Africa

Kate Pulford and Stafanie Taylor win player-of-the-match awards

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat joins teams, spectators and officials at NSO to observe a minute’s silence out of respect for those people killed or injured during Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Lahore

Photos from the NSO match available through Getty Images; images from Newcastle match available free of charge from the ICC FTP site

 
New Zealand overcame batting hiccups to upset defending champion Australia in a crucial ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 match in front of ESPN STAR Sports’ live TV cameras and 1,350 spectators at the picturesque North Sydney Oval on Sunday.

New Zealand, put into bat, was bowled out for 205 in 48 overs after being 171-3 in 40 overs with a batting PowerPlay in hand. The Kiwis then fought back gallantly to restrict Australia to 132-6 before the match was abandoned due to bad light and light showers to win the match by 13 runs, according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The victory has enhanced New Zealand’s chances of topping Group A with matches still to come against the West Indies and South Africa. As favourite to win both those games, it may well take four carry-over points in the Super Six stage which will boost its chances of making the 22 March final.

In another match, at Newcastle, the West Indies defeated South Africa by two wickets with eight balls to spare in a hard-fought match. With this victory, West Indies has all but sealed a place in the Super Six stage as both the teams will have matches against Australia and New Zealand. By contrast, South Africa, if it finishes at the bottom of the table from Group A, will be left to play in the seventh/eighth-place play-off against the bottom-placed team from Group B on 14 March.

Seventeen-year-old Stafanie Taylor was the star for the West Indies when she recorded impressive figures of 8.2-2-17-4 as South Africa, which elected to bat first after winning the toss, was bowled out for 116 in 45.2 overs after losing its last seven wickets for 22 runs.

Only opener Alicia Smith offered any significant resistance while scoring 46 that came off 109 balls and included four fours. She was the fourth batter out at the score of 94 in the 38th over.

The West Indies, in its turn at the wicket, made hard work of that target before achieving victory with two wickets and eight balls to spare.

The West Indies made a shaky start when it lost both the openers at the score of 16 but recovered through a 45-run third-wicket stand between Shanel Daley (26) and Stacy-Ann King (13). However, Afy Fletcher (nine off 70 balls) and Cordel Jack (19 runs off 52 balls) batted slowly and almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira was relieved and happy with the victory. “We are very happy and all the girls worked hard for this. We knew what we had to do and we came out and did it.

“We knew we could take our time (getting the runs), the girls didn't rush anything. Even though it took a long time at the end of the day we came away with the win.”

Player-of-the-match Stafanie Taylor said: “Yeah, I'm very pleased with my performance and happy with the win. We were very confident (in reaching the target), but while chasing small totals anything could happen.

“It was a pretty good wicket for batting, we would have liked to bat first but we came away with the win. There was a bit in it (the pitch) for the pace bowlers, the spinners didn't get much turn - I didn't get as much turn as I would have liked."

South Africa captain Sunette Loubser was disappointed with her team’s batting display. She said: “A little bit (disappointed) is not the word for it at the moment. We made a meal of the batting today. I think the bowlers did really well to almost defend that score. Our batting disappointed us a lot as we lost six wickets for 22 runs right at the end.

“No one’s to blame. It’s the whole team thing but we just need to score more runs to be able to defend it. The girls showed a lot of heart and passion to almost defend it like they did. They never gave up and I'm proud of that fact.”

However, the Australia and New Zealand game was the feature match of the day. It started with ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat joining the players, match officials and spectators in observing a minute’s silence out of respect for those people killed or injured during Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the convoy containing the Sri Lanka squad and the match officials.

Put into bat, New Zealand squandered a good start to score only 205 all out in 48 overs. 


Captain Haidee Tiffen provided her team with the platform on which New Zealand should have built on but some poor stroke-play and a tactical error led to the team to lose its last seven wickets for only 36 runs off eight overs. 

While the Australia team took its PowerPlay between 11 and 15 overs in which New Zealand scored 29 runs and lost one wicket, New Zealand delayed its batting PowerPlay until the 46th over and could use only three overs in which it scored 24 runs, including 14 off the 48th over bowled by Ellyse Perry, and lost both the remaining wickets. 

Tiffen finished as the leading scorer with a well played 57 off 113 balls with six fours. She received good support from Suzie Bates (29), Amy Satterthwaite (38) with whom she added 67 runs for the third wicket, and Sara McGlashan (29), with whom she put on 62 runs for the fourth wicket. 

Perry was the pick of Australia's bowlers with 3-40 despite dislocating the little finger of her right hand while Lisa Sthalekar and Erin Osborne bagged two wickets each. 

Australia, in its target chase, never got to the take-off point and kept losing wickets at regular intervals before rain and bad light stopped play with the home team requiring 74 runs off 112 balls with four wickets remaining. 

Kate Pulford caused maximum damage when he claimed 3-32 while new-ball opener Sophie Devine picked up 2-19. Pulford was later declared player of the match. 

Reflecting on today’s performance Tiffen said: “I am delighted with the victory over the world’s number-one team but I think we should have scored around 240 or 250. Losing seven wickets for 36 runs is not our standard and we certainly need to look at this area and try to not only bat all 50 overs but need to convert good starts into big scores. 

“Just before I got out, we were going to take our PowerPlay. In hindsight, we should have taken our PowerPlay before that over. With losing all those wickets, it certainly was not the plan to take it so late. But it is certainly a thing which we will look at and try to get it right next time.” 
Scores in brief:

At North Sydney Oval, Sydney, New Zealand 205 all out, 48 overs (Haidee Tiffen 57, Amy Satterthwaite 38, Sara McGlashan 29, Suzie Bates 29; Ellyse Perry 3-40, Lisa Sthalekar 2-35, Erin Osborne 2-37) 

Australia 132-6, 33 overs (Shelley Nitschke 27, Jodie Fields 26 not out, Karen Rolton 21; Kate Pulford 3-32, Sophie Devine 2-19)

New Zealand won by 13 runs (D/L method) 

At No 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle, South Africa 116 all out, 45.2 overs (Alicia Smith 46; Stafanie Taylor 4-17)

West Indies 117-8, 48.4 overs (Shanel Daley 26) 
West Indies won by two wickets 
 
Monday’s fixture: 

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Manuka Oval, Canberra

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Sunday, March 08, 2009 6:44:31 AM

Pulford bowls New Zealand to victory

New Zealand got its campaign to the ICC Women’s World Cup off to a brilliant start with a fantastic 13-run (D/L method) win over Australia.

Player-of-the-Match Kate Pulford inspired the victory with a brilliant spell of bowling, taking 3-32, including the prized wickets of Shelley Nitschke, Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar, with an accurate and aggressive spell.

But Australia will feel disappointed that rain denied it the opportunity to chase its target, after a 32-run partnership between Jodie Fields (26 not out) and Ellyse Perry (17 not out) brought it back into the game, although 74 runs off 17 overs was still needed for victory when heavy rain fell and ended the match.

After being put into bat by the home team, New Zealand lost an early wicket when Kate Pulford was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Lisa Sthalekar, before Suzie Bates showed some excellent form with a quick-fire 29 off 24 balls, including six boundaries.

But Bates was then dismissed by a brilliant in swinging delivery from Rene Farrell, before Haidee Tiffen and Amy Satterthwaite led a good recovery with a 67-run third wicket stand.

Satterthwaite then fell to the bowling of Lisa Sthalekar, before Sara McGlashan and Tiffen again added another excellent stand of 62.

Tiffen’s disciplined innings, 57 off 113 balls, was finally ended by Erin Osborne which sparked a dramatic collapse, including the loss of highly rated Aimee Mason second ball.



From 171-3 the White Ferns were suddenly 187-9 with the wickets shared around the Australian attack.

Ellyse Perry, who had to spend some time off the field due to a finger injury sustained when she dropped a catch from a powerfully struck shot by Satterthwaite, returned to the field to end the White Ferns innings, for 205 all out, with 18-year-old Perry taking 3-40.

New Zealand knew that it needed early wickets if it was to get back into the match having fallen at least 30-40 runs short of its intended target.

And it couldn’t have wished for a better start when Sophie Devine dismissed Alex Blackwell for 4 to reduce Australia to 13-1.

Karen Rolton and Shelley Nitschke then displayed some good shots all around the wicket, with Rolton hitting a huge six over long-on. But the Australian captain was soon to fall, the first of three wickets in a brilliant Kate Pulford spell, as she mistimed a hook shot.

Things could have got worse when Lisa Sthalekar edged her second ball to slip, but she was dropped, although she was to fall off Pulford’s next over when keeper Rachel Priest took a brilliant diving catch.

Priest then went from hero to villain when she dropped a simple catch off Jodie Fields, but New Zealand didn’t have to wait long to take another wicket when Shelley Nitschke was trapped lbw by Pulford, the ball after she had hit a pull shot for six over fine leg, to reduce the Southern Stars to 68-4.

Although Fields and Perry restored some hope to Australia, after a fall of further wickets, rain ended any chance of victory.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:51:58 AM

Taylor stars in thrilling victory

Four wickets from 17-year-old spinner Stafanie Taylor helped West Indies record an excellent two-wicket win over South Africa at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009.

Taylor took 4-17 as South Africa’s batting order crumbled to 116 all out and despite a brave fightback from Sunette Loubser’s side, the West Indies stumbled across the finish line with eight balls to spare to record a decisive victory despite losing a series of late order wickets.


Opener Alicia Smith led the way for South Africa’s batting, top scoring with 46 off 109 balls, although it will have been disappointed by the way it folded having been 50-1 at one stage, with three run outs not helping Loubser’s team.

Two early wickets reduced West Indies to 16-2, before a 45-run stand from Shanel Daley (26) and Afy Fletcher (9) put Merissa Aguilleira’s side on the way to victory, before both batters fell within the space of three balls.

Some incredibly tight South African bowling kept the pressure on the West Indies, with off spinner Loubser recording figures of 0-12 in her 10 overs and Charlize van der Westhuizen, who bowled six maidens in her ten-over spell, taking 1-13.

But Cordel Jack (19) and Stacy-Ann King (13) helped it to 100-4 and despite losing four late wickets, including two when just one run was needed for victory, South Africa was left to regret failing to getting enough runs on the scoreboard.

The West Indies face New Zealand at Bankstown on Tuesday, while Australia plays South Africa at Newcastle in the other Group A game.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:02:20 AM

Rumeli inspires impressive Indian victory

A brilliant display from India’s fast bowlers helped Jhulan Goswami’s side record a comfortable ten-wicket victory over Pakistan on the opening day of the ICC Women’s World Cup.

25-year-old Rumeli Dhar starred with the ball, taking 3-7, as Pakistan crashed to a disappointing 57 all out as it failed to cope with the pressure of playing on women’s cricket’s biggest stage.

And India comfortably reached its target with 40 overs to spare, sending confidence in the camp soaring ahead of Tuesday’s huge clash with England.

India, after winning the toss, quickly grabbed the ascendancy as Jhulan Goswami and Rumeli Dhar bowled an excellent opening spell, showing great consistency with both line and length.

Bismah Maroof fell to an excellent diving catch by Gouher Sultana off the bowling of Rumeli Dhar, before a direct hit from Amita Sharma accounted for Nain Abidi.

Skipper Urooj Mumtaz Khan was then dismissed by her opposite number, Jhulan Goswami, before Sajida Shah and Almas Akram were dismissed off consecutive balls leaving it struggling on 23-5.

Worse was to follow, as it then slumped to 25-7, before Sana Mir’s disciplined innings of 17, which was supported by Ismavia Iqbal, restored some credibility to the score line after an eight-wicket partnership of 30.

But the final three Pakistan wickets crumbled for just two runs, as leg-break bowler Priyanka Roy cleaned up the tail with 2-13.

In reply, India showed its class with the bat, as openers Anagha Deshpande (26 not out) and Anjum Chopra (17 not out) placed and timed the ball with great skill.

Although Pakistan bowled with great determination it never really threatened the opening pair and India secured an easy victory before there was even time for lunch.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:02:20 AM

Rumeli inspires impressive Indian victory

A brilliant display from India’s fast bowlers helped Jhulan Goswami’s side record a comfortable ten-wicket victory over Pakistan on the opening day of the ICC Women’s World Cup.

25-year-old Rumeli Dhar starred with the ball, taking 3-7, as Pakistan crashed to a disappointing 57 all out as it failed to cope with the pressure of playing on women’s cricket’s biggest stage.

And India comfortably reached its target with 40 overs to spare, sending confidence in the camp soaring ahead of Tuesday’s huge clash with England.

India, after winning the toss, quickly grabbed the ascendancy as Jhulan Goswami and Rumeli Dhar bowled an excellent opening spell, showing great consistency with both line and length.

Bismah Maroof fell to an excellent diving catch by Gouher Sultana off the bowling of Rumeli Dhar, before a direct hit from Amita Sharma accounted for Nain Abidi.

Skipper Urooj Mumtaz Khan was then dismissed by her opposite number, Jhulan Goswami, before Sajida Shah and Almas Akram were dismissed off consecutive balls leaving it struggling on 23-5.

Worse was to follow, as it then slumped to 25-7, before Sana Mir’s disciplined innings of 17, which was supported by Ismavia Iqbal, restored some credibility to the score line after an eight-wicket partnership of 30.

But the final three Pakistan wickets crumbled for just two runs, as leg-break bowler Priyanka Roy cleaned up the tail with 2-13.

In reply, India showed its class with the bat, as openers Anagha Deshpande (26 not out) and Anjum Chopra (17 not out) placed and timed the ball with great skill.

Although Pakistan bowled with great determination it never really threatened the opening pair and India secured an easy victory before there was even time for lunch.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News Wednesday, March 04, 2009 11:14:35 AM

India, which is one of the pre-tournament favourites, produced an impressive bowling display to beat former champion New Zealand by 27 runs in its last warm-up match before the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 at Old Kings on Wednesday.

Opener Anjum Chopra once again excelled with the bat when she scored a gutsy unbeaten 73 to help reach India 168-6 in 50 overs before the bowlers turned the screws around New Zealand batters to eventually bowl them out for 141 in 44 overs.

Gouhar Sultana (2-15), Rumeli Dhar (2-28) and Priyanka Roy (2-36) bowled excellently to earn India a victory which at one stage looked unlikely when New Zealand had reached 61-1. New Zealand vice-captain Aimee Mason top scored for her side with 39 not out while opener Suzie Bates scored 34 and Amy Satterthwaite contributed 29.

Earlier, Chopra carried the India batting on her shoulders to help it reach 168 with an innings that included four fours. After India had slipped to 57-5, she and Priyanka Roy (44) put on 110 runs for the sixth wicket to bring stability to India’s innings.

For New Zealand, Lucy Doolan (2-22) and Nicola Browne (2-23) were the main wicket-takers.

At Manly Oval, defending champion Australia strengthened its claim on a record sixth title when it defeated Sri Lanka by 230 runs. Batting first, Australia milked Sri Lanka’s bowling to score 284-7 in 50 overs and then bowled out its opponents for just 54 runs in 25 overs.

The stars of Australia’s batting were Jodie Fields (59 not out), Alex Blackwell (56 not out), Leah Poulton (49) and Jessica Cameron (42). Blackwell and Poulton laid the foundation of a big Australia total when the two put on 99 runs for the first innings. Rene Farrell then finished the innings on a high by scoring a rapid 15-ball 23.

Sri Lanka, in its target chase, was never in the hunt after losing more than half the side in the PowerPlays and was eventually bowled out for 54. Wickets were evenly shared between Emma Sampson (2-10), Sarah Andrew (2-12) and Delissa Kimmince (2-12).

At Raby Oval, two-time former champion England overcame the challenge of the West Indies by 116 runs.

Batting first after winning the toss, England struggled to find true form and managed only 210-6 in 50 overs. Claire Taylor, the top ranked batter on the Reliance Mobile ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings, continued her good form, belting six fours in a 63-ball 68.

Beth Morgan was the other batter who showed signs of nice form by hitting three fours in a 72-ball 58 before retiring. She put on 65 runs for the second wicket with Taylor who was the dominant partner.

In turn, the West Indies was bowled out for 94 in 42.2 overs with only Afy Fletcher (24) and Stafanie Taylor (20) being the notable contributors. Holly Colvin (2-6), Laura Marsh (2-13) and Anya Shrubsole (2-23) shared wickets.

At Village Green, South Africa struck form at the right time when it defeated Pakistan by 75 runs in a repeat of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier final in Stellenbosch, South Africa last year which the home side had won by eight wickets.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, South Africa scored 235-6 in 50 overs and then dismissed Pakistan for 160 with eight balls to spare.

Middle-order batter Susan Benade was the star of South Africa’s display when she scored 62 off 65 balls with three fours and a six. Together with Marizanne Kapp (56 off 69 balls with five fours), Benade added 106 runs for the sixth wicket after half the side was back in the dressing room with the score on 106.

For Pakistan, Sana Mir was the pick of the bowlers with 3-35.

In turn, Pakistan didn’t offer much resistance and was bowled out for 160 with opener Nain Abidi top scoring with 35. Dane van Niekerk (3-31) and captain Sunette Loubser (2-17) shared wickets for South Africa.

The tournament begins on Saturday 7 March and the top four teams from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2013 event to be staged in India. The fifth and sixth-placed teams will earn direct spots in the 10-team ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2011 where they will be joined by eight other sides – two each from Africa and Europe, and one each from Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions – who will qualify from their own regional qualifying tournaments.

On the opening day of the tournament, traditional rivals Pakistan and India will meet in Bowral while England will face Sri Lanka in Canberra.

Scores in brief:

At Old Kings, India 168-6 in 50 overs (Anjum Chopra 73 not out, Priyanka Chopra 44; Lucy Doolan 2-22, Nicola Browne 2-23)
New Zealand 141 in 44 overs (Aimee Mason 39 not out, Suzie Bates 34,; Gouhar Sultana 2-15, Rumeli Dhar 2-28, Priyanka Roy 2-36)
India won by 27 runs

At Village Green, South Africa 235-6, 50 overs (Susan Benade 62, Marizanne Kapp 56, Trisha Chetty 41, Cri-Zelda Brits 29; Sana Mir 3-35)
Pakistan 160 all out, 48.4 overs (Nain Abidi 35; Dane van Niekerk 3-31, Sunette Loubser 2-17)
South Africa won by 75 runs

At Raby Oval, England 210-6, 50 overs (Claire Taylor 68, Beth Morgan 58 retired)
West Indies 94 all out, 42.2 overs (Afy Fletcher 24, Stafanie Taylor 20; Holly Colvin 2-6, Laura Marsh 2-13, Anya Shrubsole 2-23)
England won by 116 runs

At Manly Oval, Australia 284-7, 50 overs (Jodie Fields 59 not out, Alex Blckwell 56 retired, Leah Poulton 49, Jessica Cameron 42, Rene Farrell 23)
Sri Lanka 54, 25 overs (Emma Sampson 2-10, Sarah Andrew 2-12, Delissa Kimmince 2-12)
Australia won by 230 runs

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News   Wednesday, March 04, 2009 6:11:24 PM

Top ranked Taylor aims for number one

As number one in the world in the Reliance Mobile Women’s ODI Batting Rankings, it is no surprise that Claire Taylor wants her team to also become the world number one by winning the ICC Women’s World Cup.

The 33-year-old from Buckinghamshire, who has been nominated on three occasions for ICC Women’s Player of the Year Award, believes that victory in Australia would be the highlight of her outstanding ODI career.

“It would be amazing to win the World Cup having personally spent so much time working towards it and focussing so much of my energy on it,” said Taylor.

“As a team it would be great to show, having had such a good run of games, that when it comes to the big game, in the crunch time of the tournament, we can perform.”

Taylor admits that there is a lot of responsibility on her and Charlotte Edwards, the England skipper, to perform well in what will be her third World Cup, but hopes the emergence of new talented players will help relieve the burden at this event.

“There is pressure in being one of the key batters and you feel every time you get out the other team is so happy and it all adds to resolve of not getting out and having a key impact on the game,” she said.

“Some of the players who have been developing over the last 18 months mean we have some really exciting talent coming through so if people think England is all about Claire and Charlotte they will miss the exciting talents of the likes of Sarah Taylor, Caroline Atkins and Ebony Rainsford-Brent.”

Taylor believes that the tournament provides an excellent platform for the emergence of some new stars in the women’s game.

“Of course new players will come through. Generally in the women’s game we don’t get to play this many games in such a short space of time and some people will come to the tournament who won’t perform to the best of their ability and there will be other people who will come here without the expectation,” said Taylor.

“I think our two front-line spinners are going to have an impact. Laura Marsh and Holly Colvin will be key for us and I think they will learn a lot in the early stages of the tournament playing against the likes of India and Pakistan who are traditionally strong against spin bowling.”

Taylor is clearly relishing the challenge of taking on the world’s best players during the course of the next three weeks and she admits the challenge of combating different styles of play is something she enjoys, especially when it can be hard to find information about the opposition in advance of taking on these players.

“One of the great things about tournament cricket is you get to play so many different teams and so many different styles in such a short space of time and that is great as you get exposed to a lot of different players, which is different to series cricket when you get used to certain bowlers and know what you are going to do against them.

“Sometimes you can get too caught up in trying to find out too much information about other teams, but I think it is important that you get to learn a few new things about teams.”

“Some of the teams have analysts here and it is there job to distil information and all of the footage,” she said.

Performing that role for England is Gemma Broad, sister of England star Stuart Broad, and Taylor paid tribute to the importance of that position in the squad.

“She looks at all of the footage from women’s cricket over the past couple of years, all the stats, information about the grounds and presents this information to the players. She also spends a lot of time talking to the two coaches, providing information on the opposition and ideas on how we need to play against them,” said Taylor.

“We need to concentrate on what we are doing but it does help bowlers setting fields for certain players and knowing where to bowl to certain players.”

England opens its campaign on Saturday against Sri Lanka, a side it last faced in November 2005 when it won an ODI series 2-0.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News   Wednesday, March 04, 2009 11:14:35 AM