-Women’s semi-final

GROS-ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Australia Women will be looking to set the example for their men’s side, and qualify for the Final of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup, when they face India Women in the first semi-final today at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Australia Women reached the semi-finals, after they played unbeaten in Group-A of their competition, which was contested solely in St Kitts, from where India Women reached the Final Four from capturing second-place in Group-B.

The Aussies started the competition with a one-over playoff win, following a tie against dethroned champions and arch-rivals England last Tuesday, two days later, they prevailed over South Africa Women by 24 runs, and last Saturday, edged West Indies Women by nine runs.

The Indians lost their tournament opener, when 2009 runners-up New Zealand prevailed by 10 runs last Wednesday, before they rebounded to topple neighbours and arch-rivals Pakistan by nine wickets two days later, and dominated fellow Asian side Sri Lanka by 71 runs last Sunday.

For the Australian Women, they would love to continue their dominance, similarly to their men’s side, which has played unbeaten throughout their side of the tournament, and will be looking to reach the T20 World Cup Final for the first time.

“I think we’ve done well as a side, and we’re continuing to do better and better as a side, and I hope we continue with that momentum into the semi-finals,” said Aussie Women’s captain Alex Blackwell.

For the Indian Women, they will seek to ease the pain at home of their men’s side failing to reach the semi-finals of their competition.

The Indian men bowed out meekly on Tuesday, when Sri Lanka bounced them with a six-wicket defeat.

“We beat Australia in the (50 overs-a-side) Women’s World Cup last time, so we are pretty confident of beating them again,” said India Women’s captain Jhulan Goswami.

Australia’s batting has not clicked yet in the tournament, but they have compensated with tight bowling, and sharp fielding.

The Indians are banking on their main batters to help them either post a big total, or successfully chase whatever target the well-drilled Aussie Women set them.

The batting will come down to a showdown between Australia’s Shelly Nitschke, the No 2 women’s batter in ODIs, and India’s former captain Mithali Raj, the No 1 women’s batter in ODIs, whose 129 runs from three matches have been the most.

India’s off-spinner Diana David has been the form bowler with nine scalps from the three preliminary matches, including two four-wicket hauls, so the Aussies may look to target her.
Squads: AUSTRALIA: Alex Blackwell (captain), Jess Cameron, Sarah Elliott, Jodie Fields, Rene Farrell, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Julie Hunter, Shelley Nitschke, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton, Clea Smith, Lisa Sthalekar and Elyse Villani
INDIA: Jhulan Goswami (captain), Anjum Chopra, Soniya Dabir, Diana David, Anagha Deshpande, Rumeli Dhar, Harmanpreet Kaur, Reema Malhotra, Sulakshana Naik, Mithali Raj, Poonam Raut, Priyanka Roy, Amita Sharma and  Gouher Sultana
UMPIRES: Marais Erasmus and Tony Hill
TV UMPIRE: Asad Rauf

MATCH REFEREE: Andy Pycroft

RESERVE UMPIRE: Rod Tucker