Australia captain Meg Lanning scores 97 as Women's World Cup favourites defeat India by six wickets in record run chase in Auckland to reach semi-finals; watch every match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup live on Sky Sports
Saturday 19 March 2022 15:41, UK
Australia completed a record run chase to beat India by six wickets and become the first team to book a place in the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup.
India, who lost the toss and were put in to bat, scored an imposing 277-7 at Auckland's Eden Park on the back of half centuries from Yastika Bhatia (59), skipper Mithali Raj (68) and Harmanpreet Kaur (57no).
Darcie Brown was the pick of the Australia bowlers with 3-30, while Alana King too 2-52.
Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy responded with an opening stand of 121 for Australia and captain Meg Lanning then took the tournament favourites to the brink of victory with a superb 97 from 107 balls.
Lanning departed with eight balls remaining and eight runs still required but Beth Mooney (30no) struck two fours in the final over to see Australia to their fifth win from five matches with three balls to spare as they finished on 280-4.
"It was a ripper wicket and to come away with a win against an excellent team is really good for the group," said Lanning.
"We want to keep getting better every game. We'll take the win today but know that there are things we need to improve on."
The previous highest successful chase at a Women's World Cup was the 258 Australia scored to beat Sri Lanka in the 2017 tournament in England.
The victory ensured the six-times World Cup winners will finish in the top four of the opening round standings to secure a place in the semi-finals ahead of their last two group matches against South Africa and Bangladesh.
India, who also lost their previous game to England, must now win their final group matches against the same two teams to maintain their hopes of reaching the last four.
Australia are the first team through to the semi-finals but defending champions England still have a lot of work to do if they are to reach the last four and face a must-win match against New Zealand on Saturday night.
Seamer Anya Shrubsole says England will have a point to prove in Auckland as they look to follow up Wednesday's win over India which came after defeats in their opening three matches.
She said: "We're motivated by wanting to put some things right that we feel like we haven't achieved in this tournament so far and everyone will individually have their own motivation.
"So I guess we're wanting to come out here and win and that just goes without saying, that's how we approach every single game and I guess it's about us wanting to give a true reflection of ourselves as a team that we feel like we haven't done at times during this tournament.
"We want to win every game of cricket that we play, we're here representing England and we have a huge amount of pride in that and we're here to win every game that we play.
"So yes we're obviously motivated but I wouldn't say we're necessarily more motivated than the three games that we lost and the three games that we're about to play."
Phoebe Graham says the "spark" is back for England after their win over India but wonders whether Emma Lamb now deserves a spot in the top order.
"It felt like they had forgotten how to win games of cricket. Against India, though, they got over the line," she said.
"Off-spinner Charlie Dean was a critical part of the winning formula with four wickets and captain Heather Knight led from the front, scoring 53 not out.
"The top order still doesn't feel right. A role change for Danni Wyatt, going from No 7 to opener, did not work.
"It feels a crying shame to leave in-form opener Emma Lamb on the bench as her skill is so suited to that role."
Watch England Women take on New Zealand Women in a must-win World Cup clash live on Sky Sports World Cup and YouTube from 9.30pm on Saturday night.
