Women's World Cup Today: Day 7

South Africa annihilate West Indies

Scorecard

You’d be hard pressed to find a more one-sided ODI. Having been sent in by South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk, the Windies were completely blown off the park for their lowest World Cup score, a paltry 48 inside 26 overs. The top score was 26 by Chedean Nation. The next best:  four, shared by four players. Five batters were dismissed without scoring, the chief destroyers being Marizanne Kapp and van Niekerk with four victims each. Kapp and express quick Shabnim Ismail shared the first six wickets, with the Windies 5-16 from 7.5 overs. A ‘rebuild’ moved the score to 42 before van Niekerk’s leg-spin claimed a remarkable 4-0 from 20 balls – the best figures in international cricket EVER without conceding a run – to wrap up the innings for four dozen. In reply, the Proteas opening pair didn’t muck around. Laura Wolvaardt (19no off 22 balls) and Lizelle Lee (29no off 16) raced to the target in 38 balls to complete the lop-sided victory.

Rapid Stat: South Africa’s victory with 262 balls to spare is the third-biggest ever in a 50-over women’s ODI. The record of 276 is held by the West Indies, whom in 2008, bowled out the Netherlands for just 22 and chased it down in four overs.

Image Id: 09CD01326554476287B44C4D94DE5D38 Image Caption: 4-0! Not bad, not bad at ALL! // Getty

Pakistan pummelled by India

Scorecard

On any other day with multiple matches taking place, 74 would be the lowest total. Fortunately for Pakistan, the Windies’ 48 claimed that unwanted honour. Chasing 170 to win after Nashra Sundhu collected 4-26, Pakistan collapsed to be 6-26. Ekta Bisht picked up three early wickets before she finished with 5-18. At 9-51 it looked as though both Pakistan and the West Indies would be bowled out for less than 100 combined, but a last-wicket partnership of 23 between skipper Sana Mir and No.11 Sada Yousaf saved some face. While it won’t be complete retribution, India’s win avenges the men’s loss to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final last month.

Image Id: 92E0780DD87849E09E292C38990C0EC0 Image Caption: Bisht bulldozed her was through the Pakistan batting order // Getty

England cruise past Sri Lanka

Scorecard

England put the opening loss to India behind them with wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the latter a comfortable seven-wicket victory with the best part of 20 overs remaining. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sri Lanka moved to 44 before Nat Sciver produced the opening wicket. Less than two overs later, Sciver struck the telling blow when she had Chamari Athapaththu - hero against Australia - caught behind for one. Laura Marsh then motored through the Sri Lankan middle order with 4-45 from 10 overs before a late flurry lifted the total to 8-204. Both English openers were back in the pavilion by the end of the eighth over but 50 runs were already on the board. It was one-way traffic from there on out, as Sarah Taylor (70no off 66) and Heather Knight (82 off 76) combined for 148 to drive the tournament hosts to the doorstep of victory.

Image Id: 62E7C9EA381F4F418779FF4664D14384 Image Caption: Handshakes all round // Getty

Australia remain perfect with win over White Ferns

Scorecard

Meg Lanning’s charges faced their biggest test of the tournament to date when they tackled trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in Bristol. But just like they had done with the West Indies and Sri Lanka, the defending champions brushed aside the White Ferns to make it a hat-trick of wins to start tournament. There was no confusion at the toss on Sunday when NZ captain Suzie Bates elected to bat. The skipper made the most of the opportunity by posting 51, but she was undone by returning left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, who claimed three quick wickets to turn the match on its head. Katie Perkins compiled 52 and Erin Bermingham 35 as New Zealand set Australia 220 to win. The power-packed top order once again delivered, as the southpaw opening pair of Beth Mooney and Nicole Bolton pushed the score to 49 before the Western Australian departed. When Mooney was castled by express quick Lea Tahuhu for 32 it brought the formidable duo of Lanning and Ellyse Perry together and in tandem they put on 71. Teenage sensation Amanda Kerr removed Lanning and Elyse Villani with consecutive deliveries but Perry continued, and with veteran vice-captain Alex Blackwell by her side, she steered the Australians to victory with eight balls to spare.

Rapid Stat: When Perry’s score ticked over to 57 she registered her 2,000th run in ODI cricket. The 26-year-old’s first 1,000 ODI runs came in 45 innings whereas her second 1,000 arrived in just 19 knocks. 

Pic of the day

Look away, batters!

Image Id: 643FA2D2EBF646A4B02D7ECD8442790E Image Caption: A sight no batter wants to see // Getty

Tweet of the day

The carnage as it unfolded

What does it all mean?

What’s next?

Wednesday is another massive day in the intriguing Women’s World Cup. Sri Lanka take on Asian rival India in Derby; Australia face Pakistan in Leicester; and perhaps the match of the day belongs to the England and South Africa clash in Bristol. A day later, New Zealand square off against the West Indies in Taunton. 

Women's World Cup Guide

News, highlights and full schedule

Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

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