Aussies rule in Colombo as England go down to an agonising defeat in Women's World Twenty20 final
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UPDATED:
12:29 GMT, 7 October 2012
England fell just four runs short in a tight finish to a tough run chase as Australia retained the Women's World Twenty20 trophy.
Jess Cameron top-scored with 45 to help Australia pile up 142 for four after being put in at the Premadasa Stadium.
England's batsmen never quite managed the necessary impetus to get over the line, but would not give up and came mighty close in the end to regaining the title they won at Lord's in 2009.
Aussies rule: The celebrations started in earnest as England were beaten in Colombo
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Pure delight: Ellyse Perry celebrates after dismissing Sarah Taylor
Key batsmen Charlotte Edwards and
Sarah Taylor got started, but could not sustain their innings, as
Australia shared the wickets between spin and seam, yet the inaugural
winners of this competition batted deep to finish on 138 for nine.
There was enough pace in the pitch to
make the seamers vulnerable, if slightly off target, and Australia
openers Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning cashed in against Katherine Brunt.
Eyes on the ball: Charlotte Edwards batting in the women's World Twenty20 final on Sunday
They were therefore off to a flying
start, racking up 47 without loss in powerplay as both Healy and Lanning
found boundaries easy to come by, especially in Brunt's second over,
which cost 16. Holly Colvin gave England a much-needed breakthrough, in
her first over, when Lanning chipped a caught-and-bowled back to the
slow left-armer to end an opening stand of 51.
At 10 overs, the score was 68 for
one, but immediately afterwards, Healy was bowled trying to pull Danni
Hazell. Cameron then dominated a second half-century stand with Lisa
Sthalekar, and had just taken 17, including a six over midwicket, from
one Anya Shrubsole over when Colvin again broke the partnership.
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Happy days: Australia players celebrate as Charlotte Edwards is dismissed
Cameron was caught at long-on. But
Sthalekar and Alex Blackwell lost no significant momentum in the closing
overs, as Edwards sensibly opted not to bring back the pace of either
Brunt or Shrubsole.
It seemed Australia might have a winning total, albeit on a good batting surface – and so it proved, just.
Laura Marsh went caught-and-bowled to
Julie Hunter in the fifth over of England's reply, and when Edwards was
held at deep midwicket off Sthalekar for 28 another 99 runs were still
needed.
Hitting out: Alex Blackwell batting at the R. Premadasa Stadium
Edwards' dismissal sparked some
telling Australia celebrations, but they were shouting even louder when
strike bowler Elysse Perry returned to have Taylor (19) caught-behind
aiming an inside-out drive in the 10th over.
From there, England's prospects were
far from obvious. A series of admirably busy stands followed, however,
with some fine late hitting from Jenny Gunn, who made 19, and Australia
had to hold their nerve to deny England's late flourish as slow
left-armer Jess Jonassen (three for 25) took the honours with the ball.
