Favourites Australia scored a nail-biting victory over rivals England while the South African women beat the Bangladesh ladies comfortably in a low-scoring encounter. Rachael Haynes scored a superb 130 to get Australia to a winning total while Natalie Sciver’s excellent century for England went in vain as Meg Lanning’s decision to give Jess Jonassen the ball paid off. Ayabhonga Khaka picked up a brilliant four-wicket haul to deny Bangladesh a chance at an upset.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana won the toss and decided to put the South African women into bat. The pitch was not the best for batting, and the Proteas batters struggled to get runs flowing. Opener Tazmin Britz and Lara Goodall both played a lot of deliveries to not much avail, as they eventually departed without making too much of an impact on the scoreboard. Laura Volvaardt was looking good, as she scored a few boundaries to get the Proteas’ innings moving on.
She had made 41 off 52 deliveries before a peach of a delivery from Bangla bowler Ritu Moni castled her, leaving the South Africans in deep trouble. Captain Sune Luus and Mignon du Preez were also doing well in the middle, before the experienced du Preez was dismissed caught and bowled by Rumana Ahmed, and a mix-up brought about the end of Luus’ innings. It was then the duo of Chloe Tryon and Marizanne Kapp made valuable contributions to take their side to a total of 207.
With a relatively small target to defend, the South African women got off to the worst start possible, as the Bangla openers added 69 for the first wicket. However, it all went downhill from there for the Bangladesh women, as they lost wickets on a constant basis, as a couple of run-outs and a wonderful spell from Ayabhonga Khaka brought the curtains down on the Bangladesh innings, giving South Africa the victory by 32 runs.
The second game between Australia and England was much closer. Batting first, the Aussie women had a great first innings, as opener Rachael Haynes scored a magnificent hundred, while skipper Meg Lanning joined the party with fine 86. Cameos in the end from Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney took Australia to a total of 310/3. Natalie Sciver was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/68.
In reply, England, despite losing a wicket in the very first over, were looking to be in the game for almost the entire while, as Tamsin Beaumont, captain Heather Knight, and Natalie Sciver all played responsible innings. Beaumont departed for 74, and Knight was dismissed for 40, before Sciver took England all the way to a point where victory seemed quite possible.
Sciver scored a fantastic century in just 79 balls, as she and Katherine Brunt looked set to get England the win. With 16 runs to defend, and two set batters at thre crease, Aussie captain Meg Lanning tossed the ball to Jess Jonassen to bowl the last over, much to the amazement of everyone watching. However, it turned out to be an inspired decision, as Jonassen picked up two wickets while conceding just three runs, to give Australia a big win. Natalie Sciver’s wonderful all-round performance went in vain, as the Aussies won by 12 runs.
