What a contrasting experience for Australian supporters waking up at 1.30am on Monday morning to watch the finals. Forgive me for being parochial, but the disappointment of Australian men’s defeat was compensated by the joy of their female counterparts’ last ball victory.
England’s triumph was well-deserved, thanks to a winning 111 run partnership off 68 balls between Player of the Match, Craig Kieswetter (63), and Player of the Series, Kevin Pietersen (47).
Australia’s 6-147 appeared inadequate.
David Hussey (59 off 54 balls) batted aggressively, but I wonder why his brother Mike was sent in as late as at no.7. His sensational innings against Pakistan was responsible for Australia entering the final.
England deserved their 7 wicket win with 18 balls remaining.
Now to the women’s epic final.
Although low-scoring, and including only six fours and two sixes in 40 overs, it provided thrills aplenty.
It appeared that it would be a double disaster for Australia when the Ozywomen could total only 8-106. Player of the series Nicola Browne bagged 2-11 in four overs.
But the Australian bowlers and fielders rose to the occasion. They reduced the Kiwi girls to 5-36 in 11 overs, 19 year-old Ellyse Perry and Shelly Nitschke keeping batters in control.
New Zealand needed 71 runs to win in 54 balls.
Australian all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar added to her valuable 18 runs off 13 balls with an economical spell of 4-0-19-0. Twenty of her 24 balls were on the good length spot.
New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine attacked at the end (38 runs off 35 balls), but still New Zealand required 24 runs off the last eight balls. Not to be daunted, Devine lashed out and hit quickie Rene Farrell for a 4 and a 6.
Now to the heart-stopping final over, 14 runs were needed to win the Championship.
And it was Perry verus Perry: Australia’s Ellyse Perry bowling to New Zealand batter Liz Perry. Liz Perry takes a single. Now 13 runs are needed off five balls, with on-song Devine on strike.
But she could manage only 9 runs and Australia won the thriller by 3 runs off the last ball.
According to Australian captain Alex Blackwell, and the teenaged Player of the Match, Ellyse Perry, it was fantastic not only to lift the Trophy but to receive cheering from Michael Clarke and his team from the crowd.
Although I enjoy watching Twenty20 cricket, is it wise to hold the World Twenty20 that often? We had it in 2007, 2009 and now. Just as the World Cup is held every four years, so should World Twenty20.
But staging the men’s and women’s World Twenty20 at the same in the same country is a great idea.
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New Zealand took 28 years to win a Test match, finally triumphing in 1956. There were plenty of skilled individuals before that but not a complete team.
