WWC17 Today: Three sides move ahead

RESULTS

Sri Lanka 101 (D van Niekerk 4-24) lost to South Africa 2-104 (Wolvaardt 48no) by eight wickets with 161 balls remaining.

Full scorecard

South Africa have dished out some heavy defeats this tournament (just ask the Windies) and on Wednesday it was Sri Lanka’s turn to be torched by the Proteas. Only three Sri Lankan batters reached double figures as South Africa’s attack stifled run-scoring and regularly picked up wickets. Skipper Dane van Niekerk, who claimed the remarkable figures of 4-0 against the West Indies, added four more scalps to her tournament tally as her rivals scraped past the hundred mark before they were all out in the 41st over. Wickets in the first and sixth overs saved some face for Sri Lanka before Laura Wolvaardt and Mignon du Preez (38no) breezed to the total with more than half of their allotted overs to spare.

Image Id: F45F64353F624D4C9FB637E559BE395A Image Caption: Four more for van Niekerk // Getty

India 7-226 (Raut 106, Raj 69) lost to Australia 2-227 (Lanning 76no, Perry 60no) by eight wickets with 29 balls remaining.

Full scorecard | Match report

With a semi-final spot on the line, Australia didn't waste the opportunity to secure their spot in the final four of the tournament. After Meg Lanning sent India in to bat, Australia had to wait 37 overs between wickets No.1 and No.2 as Panum Raut and Mithali Raj put on 157 for the second stand. Raut’s 106 was her second one-day international century and when she took off her helmet in celebration it looked as though she’d barely broken a sweat. Raj’s 69 broke two very impressive records – more on that to follow – but once the set batters departed, Australia’s death bowlers zeroed in to take 4-23 inside the last four overs. In reply, the defending champions got off to a solid start through Beth Mooney (45) and Nicole Bolton (36). When the Queenslander departed the scoreboard read 2-103 and from there Australia didn’t lose another wicket en route to victory. Captain Lanning cruised past 5,000 international runs in her innings as she and Ellyse Perry (60) put on an unbeaten 124 for the third wicket to reach the victory target in the 46th over.

England 9-284 (Sciver 129, Beaumont 93, Kerr 4-51) beat New Zealand 209 (Bates 44, Perkins 43no, Gunn 3-44) by 75 runs.

Full scorecard

It was the Beaumont and Sciver Show in Derby as England made it five wins on the trot to secure a semi-final berth. Tammy Beaumont thrived as early wickets fell around her after England won the toss and elected to bat. The opener struck 10 fours and a sole six and finally found a reliable partner in No.5 Nat Sciver when the pair came together at 3-42 in the 14th over. The dynamic duo put on 170 as Beaumont fell seven runs short of a fourth ODI century. Sciver, however, would not be denied three figures. The right-hander reached her hundred from 92 balls before she was out for 129 with 11 fours next to her name. A commanding total of 284 was always going to be a challenge for the White Ferns, and it proved that way, with only skipper Suzie Bates, Amy Satterthwaite and Katie Perkins providing any kind of resistance. Anya Shrubsole, Jenny Gunn and Alex Hartley each claimed multiple wickets as New Zealand were bowled out a long way from victory.

Image Id: DACB90999CEE4946B5062B39D08FF238 Image Caption: What a knock by Sciver! // Getty

Stat of the day

India skipper Mithali Raj achieved two pretty incredible feats on Wednesday. First, she passed former England batter Charlotte Edwards to become the leading run-scorer in women’s ODI cricket. Seven runs later she became the first woman to score 6,000 ODI runs.

Play of the day

This is a hard one to explain, so it’s best left to watch the video below. Incredible scenes!  

Tweet of the day

Umm...

Shot of the day

Check this remarkable piece of innovation by Nat Sciver!

What’s next?

The losses by India and New Zealand mean their match on Saturday in Derby is now effectively a quarter-final with the winner set to advance and the loser knocked out. England, Australia and South Africa hold the top three spots in that order, and while they’re all guaranteed of a semi-final spot, the positions do make a difference. The first semi-final, where No.1 faces No.4, is a whole two days earlier than the second semi, meaning much more rest for the winner ahead of the final at Lord’s. England play the West Indies in Bristol while Australia and South Africa square off in Taunton.

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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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