WT20I WC: Aus & Eng notch up easy wins to begin their campaign



Australia and England have notched up reasonably comfortable wins over their Asian rivals to begin their World Cup on a positive note. In the afternoon game, Australia beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets, while England beat a spirited Bangladesh by 21 runs in the evening game.


At Sharjah, Australia bowled first, as the Asian champions Sri Lanka lost 2 quick early wickets, including their mainstay Chamari Athapaththu (3), and never really recovered. With a lack of power hitting, Sri Lanka crawled through 20 overs to 97/6. No. 3 Harshita (23) and Nilakshi de Silva (29) were the main scorers in a dull 1st innings. Meghan Schutt was the chief wrecker with 3 wickets and was finally named the player of the match.


While chasing, the Aussies put up a sketchy batting performance as Healy (3) and Wareham (3) threw their wickets in an effort to enhance the NRR, giving Sri Lanka some glimmer of hope. However, Perry (15) and Gardner (12) stayed long enough with an in-form Mooney (43 not out) to ensure there were no dramas, and the Aussies were home by 15 overs, winning by 6 wickets. The Sri Lankans bowled well, but 97 was too inadequate a score to challenge the mighty Aussies.



Meanwhile, in the evening game, Bangladesh put up a strong bowling and fielding performance to restrict a fancied England side to 118/7. England actually started in whirlwind fashion with young Maia Bouchier (23) and an experienced Danni Wyatt-Hodge (41) giving England a brisk start as they rattled up 48 in 6.4 overs when Bouchier was caught off Rabeya Khan. Once the breakthrough came, the Bangladesh ladies were all over a rusty-looking England middle order with superstars Sciver (2), Knight (6), and Capsey (9) getting out after being suffocated by the tight Bangladesh bowling and fielding. More wickets fell, but Amy Jones (12*), after being dropped, stayed long enough, and with Ecclestone (8*) coming in and hitting a big 6 in the final over, England reached 118.


The Bangladesh batting still lacks the firepower to challenge strong teams like England, and so it was proved again as Bangladesh failed to chase down a modest total and kept losing wickets to the England spinners, amongst whom Linsey Smith was outstanding (2/11 in 4 overs). Mostary (44) and skipper Nigar Sultana (15) batted stubbornly but could not hit the big shots to trouble England, who finally won by 21 runs. Wyatt-Hodge was the player of the match for her 41.


India, smarting from a shock defeat to New Zealand, will now meet Pakistan, and the West Indies will face Scotland in the next round of matches. 


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