Healy facing race to be fit for semi-final

Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy is facing a race against time to be fit for the World T20 semi-finals after suffering mild concussion following a collision with teammate Megan Schutt during Australia's loss to India in Guyana.

Healy was forced from the field she clashed with Schutt as both attempted to take a high catch off Arundhati Reddy during the 19th over of India’s innings.

With their vision obscured by the Indian batters, Healy collided with Schutt’s shoulder and fell to the ground.

After being attended to by the team doctor and physio Healy walked from the ground, with teammate and fellow opening batter Beth Mooney taking the wicketkeeping gloves for the remaining nine balls of India’s innings. To add insult to injury for the Australians, the catch was put down.

Healy didn’t take her usual place at the top of the order for Australia’s chase, with Elyse Villani opening alongside Mooney in her place, before it was confirmed the 28-year-old had suffered a minor concussion and would take no further part in the match.

Australia will fly to Antigua on Sunday ahead of their semi-final on Thursday, giving Healy four days to prove her fitness.

“She's got a mild concussion,” captain Meg Lanning said after the match.

“So obviously we'll treat that carefully and monitor that over the next few days. But hopefully she's all right for us come semi-finals time.

“I haven't spoken to the doctor or anything like that. Obviously we're just worried for her welfare.

“She was down on the bench there towards the ends of the batting innings. She wanted to bat, but we were just playing that smart. Hopefully she's good to go.”

The Southern Stars will be desperately hoping Healy will be fit for the match, against either England or  West Indies, with the opener having been Australia's form batter in the tournament to date.

She was named player of the match in each of their first three pool games after striking 48, 56no and 53.

The Sydney Sixers star had scored six fifties in her last eight T20 innings and was the tournament's leading run scorer heading into the match.

India finished with 8-167 after earlier winning the toss and electing to bat first, led by a powerful half-century from Smriti Mandhana (83 from 55) and a quick-fire 27-ball 43 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Their spinners then dominated as Australia's batting innings never really got going, sealing a 48-run win and top spot in Group B.

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

November 9: Australia beat Pakistan by 52 runs

November 11: Australia beat Ireland by nine wickets

November 13: Australia beat New Zealand by 33 runs

November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium

November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua

November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground