Australia have acquired a place in the finals of the ongoing Women T20I tri-series after bulldozing the England batting line-up to win the contest by 16 runs at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday.
AUSSIES WIN! 🤩 The spinners put on a clinic to seal our spot in the tri-series final alongside India!
Scorecard: https://t.co/16du5L6xTU #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/W3QXoS8MgN
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 9, 2020
The Meg Lanning-led side were also down and out in batting as they could only post 132-7 in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Beth Mooney was the highest scorer (50 off 40 balls) and the only batter to smash half-century. Lower-order batter Rachael Haynes played a handy knock of 24 off 21 balls.
😍🙌😁 pic.twitter.com/WiN9ux5ecX
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 9, 2020
However, the sub-par score proved to be vital for the Aussies as left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux (3-19) and pacer Tayla Vlaeminck (2-18) never allowed the English batters to settle and make partnerships in their chase.
That's a third wicket for Sophie Molineux! Egland now 6-70 in the 13th over needing 133 to win.
LIVE: https://t.co/16du5L6xTU #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/ThfmIcX9uH
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 9, 2020
At one stage, England were 53-3, and all of a sudden, they went down to 70-6. All-rounder Katherine Brunt and wicket-keeper batter Lauren Winfield did show some fight as the duo scored 23 each towards the end. However, it wasn’t enough as the Heather Knight-led side could only post 116-7 and lost the game.
Happy days! 😇😇😇 pic.twitter.com/UzgQjz1K6r
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 9, 2020
Australia will now face India in the final on Wednesday (Feb 12) at the same venue.
