Aussies pass tough Bates test

Spearhead Megan Schutt says the response of Australia’s bowlers when New Zealand star Suzie Bates threatened to blow their World T20 campaign open shows how far they’ve evolved since last year’s disastrous 50-over World Cup exit.

Desperate to keep her team alive in the tournament, Bates had joined the in-form Katey Martin with her team in a precarious position at 3-13 and proceeded to put the pressure right back on the Australian bowlers in their defense of 7-153 – at one point crashing 37 runs from three overs to bring the required rate down to 8.25.

But the Australian bowlers held their nerve, leg-spinner Georgia Wareham deceiving Martin on 26 before Bates was trapped lbw by off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner on 48, the veteran forced to depart with her team still needing 55 from 34 and with no recognised batter left at the crease.

A defeat would have left Australia needing to beat India on Saturday – and cross their fingers that a poor forecast wouldn’t put matters beyond their control – to claim a spot in the semi-finals, but instead Meg Lanning’s victorious team now head into a three-day break with a spot in the play-offs already sealed.

Australia’s bowlers have frequently spoken of the need for resilience when confronted by a batter in full flow, after falling apart in the face of India star Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171no in last year’s World Cup semi-final defeat.

They’ll get another chance to take on the India skipper on Saturday in their final group match, and Schutt says Tuesday’s experience against Bates was a good test of how the bowling attack has grown. 

“I think it was a really good challenge for us and something that we probably needed,” Schutt said after Australia sealed a 33-run victory and their place in the tournament semi-finals. 

“But I think it's moments like that where you just need to take a deep breath. 

“I think that's what we did out there and probably would have panicked maybe 12, 18 months ago, but it's something we worked on and it was nice to see it out there today.”

The match was particularly pleasing for Strikers star Schutt, who bounced back after being on the receiving end against 10th-ranked Ireland – when she returned figures of 1-30 – to strangle New Zealand in the power play and capture the wicket of opener Anna Peterson in her first over, finishing with 3-12.

A wide first ball of the innings missed everything and handed the White Ferns five runs, but they only managed to score seven from her 24 legal deliveries that followed.

“Look, after the five wides at the start I was a little bit worried it could have been a bad day again,” Schutt said. 

“But, yeah, two bad games in a row would have been absolutely horrible for me. So, nice to bounce back.

“I was feeling okay. Just you feel let down a little bit, after a match like that. 

“But at the end of the day we won. Had we lost and I had lost us the game, I would have been pretty bummed. But it's cricket, those games happen.”

Only a shock loss to Ireland on Thursday will stop India joining Australia in the semi-finals, leaving Saturday’s game to determine who goes through as the highest qualifier.

With a three-day break now to recover and reassess before that final group match, Schutt is pleased with how the Australians are positioned.

“It's great. It's the classic case of bird in the hand is better than two in the bush,” Schutt said. 

“I think it's great to be locked into that semi-final position, but obviously we won't be taking the next game lightly.”

Australia’s clash with India begins at 11am Saturday local time (2am Sunday AEDT), with coverage on Fox Sports and the Nine Network.  

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