Lynn McConnell
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13th Match: Australia Women v India Women at Lincoln, 6 Dec 2000 Lynn McConnell |
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India Women innings:
Australia Women innings: Pre-game: |
India was 172/8 when the 50 overs were completed, a win by 52 runs. The margin did not reflect fairly the effort the Indians put in to try and win the match. But when six Indian wickets fell for 25 runs that was the end of the issue.
Attempting to score 224 to take the win, India was on a par with Australia's comparative scoring, and wickets in hand, until the 30th over but then the pressure told.
It was a calm and composed Australian team in the field compared to the Indians who let Australia off the hook and paid the price.
Until the fall of Purmina Rau's wicket in the 34th over, India was on target, but with Rau's dismissal, the requirement of the new batsman to pick up the pace immediately it was too tall an order for the Indians.
The end came quickly as firstly Therese McGregor started the Indian decline with 3-38 then Mason took 2-17 as the Indian hopes obliterated.
Star of the Indian innings was Anjum Chopra who scored 47 runs at the top of the order and she looked set to be the player at the forefront of India's bid.
However, one ball after offering McGregor a caught and bowled chance, she lofted a ball to mid-on which was well held by Charmaine Mason.
Chasing 224 to win the game, India was scoring at the same rate that Australia managed during its innings with the same number of wickets in hand.
After 30 overs India was 105/1, and at the same stage of its innings, Australia was 100/1. Anjum Chopra was 38 and Purnima Rau was 19.
It was developing into a fascinating battle as Australia was put under consistent pressure for the first time in the tournament.
As Australia's slow bowlers slowed the scoring rate down, the Indian pair at the wicket, Anjum Chopra and Purnima Rau, started slipping into positive mode while running between the wickets and kept the momentum going.
A valuable blow was struck for Australia when it dismissed the Indian captain Anju Jain, who was looking very comfortable while dealing with the Australian fast-medium attack.
She was run out when setting off for a single from the bowler's end and when sent back she wasn't able to beat a direct hit from Olivia Magno's throw.
The two sides were roughly similar at comparative stages of the innings.
The outstanding pitch on the ground induced quality batting and the Indian openers Anju Jain and Anjum Chopra matched anything the Australians could do. They even raised the side's 50 six balls quicker than the defending world champions managed.
Jain was especially effective in dealing with the pace of Australia's Cathryn Fitzpatrick whose first six overs cost 21 runs.
After 15 overs, India was 55/0 with Jain 31 not out while Chopra was 20 not out.
But it wasn't enough to prevent Australia racing home to a healthy total of 223/5.
That state of affairs was thanks to the efforts of Olivia Magno (24not out) and Julie Price (23no) who added 42 for the sixth wicket.
India could be assured that the highly-competitive Australians will not make the same mistakes in the field as the Indians made with sloppy fielding, including dropping three catches in the last three overs.
After a flying start was made by the experienced pair of Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley, who added 55 in 16 overs for the first wicket, and a 110-run partnership for the second wicket between Keightley and Karen Roulton, Australia lost four wickets for only 16 runs.
At one stage it looked as if Australia might score 230, especially with Rolton in full flight.
But once Keightley got out for 74 from 116 balls, the rot set in.
Rolton's 61 came from 72 balls.
Australia put the Indian field under genuine pressure by a constant assault plan of taking quick singles. It brought some risks, especially when Clark survived two run out chances, but it did increase the mistakes by the Indians.
Purnima Rau didn't come on to bowl here off-spinners until the 31st over. But she was able to pick up two wickets for 35.
The Australian batsmen Olivia Magno and the sharp-running Julia Price brought up the 200 in the 48th over and at the same time survived two dropped chances in the outfield.
The unfortunate bowler was Rupanjah Shastri, who deserved better reward for what was a fine bowling spell.
Lisa Keightley was leading the Australian assault and was 56 not out after 30 overs while Karen Rolton was 14 not out.
Australia lost some of their early momentum when Belinda Clark was out, caught and bowled by Rupanjali Shastri for 27 in the 16th over.
Left-hander Karen Rolton came to the wicket but took longer than usual to adjust to the greater pace in the wicket. Her first 13 runs came off 34 balls but there was every hint that she was beginning to find the range of the bowling.
Keightley also slowed a little as the Indian bowling tightened but in the 28th over she registered a deserved half-century with a trademark straight drive. She hit five fours in the 50, to continue her good run of scores at the tournament.
It was her second half century with two other scores in the 40s from her four matches to date.
The Australian policy of working quick singles put pressure on the Indian field and several times chancey singles became comfortable as players fumbled with the ball.
Belinda Clark, who has been quiet by her own standards, looked awesome on the drive, although her penchant for quick singles almost saw her demise twice when India's fielders were just a little slow in their reactions.
She was 24 not out, the same score as Lisa Keightley
Playing her role in the opening partnership was Lisa Keightley. Keightley, taller than Clark, clearly relished the greater bounce of BIL Oval. One straight drive from Renu Margrate was fit to rank as the shot of the tournament.
It fairly sizzled across the fast outfield.
Conditions for the game were the best of the tournament to date with fine overhead conditions and little if any breeze.
The two teams are the only unbeaten sides left in the tournament and for India, this game, and the next against New Zealand on Saturday, are vital to its hopes of securing one of the top two places for the semi-finals.
Mithali Raj, the leader in the CricInfo player of the tournament stakes, was missing from the Indian team when it was announced today. She is suffering a throat infection which is likely to take three days to clear.
The teams for the game are:
Australia - Belinda Clark, Karen Rolton, Cherie Bambury, Joanne Broadbent, Avril Fahey, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Lisa Keightley, Olivia Magno, Charmaine Mason, Therese McGregor, Julia Price.
India - Anju Jain, Anjun Chopra, Chanderkanta Kaul, Neetu David, Deepa Kulkarni, Purnima Rao, Rupanjali Shastri, Hemlata Kala, Renu Margrate, Arundhati Kirkire, Smitha Hirakrishna.
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Date-stamped : 06 Dec2000 - 18:31