The Southern Stars take on the old enemy England who have been displaying top form in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s World T20. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
After winning the inaugural tournament, England have finished runner-up the last two times. Australia, on the other hand, know exactly what it takes to win as they gun for their fourth straight having won the other three tournaments.
The Stars barely scraped into the finals, finishing second in Group A behind New Zealand. They managed to win three of their matches but it was only a big win over Ireland in their final match that confirmed their place in the next round as they restricted them to 91 before chasing it down in just 13 overs.
Australia’s first two games saw them beat South Africa by six wickets and Sri Lanka by nine wickets while they suffered a six-wicket smashing at the hands of New Zealand.
England meanwhile finished on the top of Group B not just winning but dominating their games, with the exception of the third one against the West Indies.
That one went down to the last ball, with England only having one wicket in hand. The others, though, saw them defeat Pakistan by 68 runs, India by two wickets with an over to spare and Bangladesh by 36 runs.
While Australia’s bowlers have been firing on all cylinders so far in the tournament, it would be fair to say that the batters need to lift their game. Even in the drubbing against Ireland, only Elyse Villani and Ellyse Perry scored runs, with everyone else failing.
England has been firing in most areas, but the game they only just got over the line in against the West Indies shows us that a bowling attack that does everything right – as the Stars have – can quickly dismantle their top order and they are a little fragile once past that.
Prediction
The Stars are due for a big performance with the bat, and they have risen to the occasion more than a few times, Can’t see them losing here.
Stars to go through to the final.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below as the action unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
jameswm
Roar Guru
Cracking win by the Aussie girls. HABs Mitch and Matty T must be proud.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening for our live coverage of the ICC Women's World T20, with the Southern Stars booking their place in the final with a win over England against either the West Indies or New Zealand who do battle tomorrow night. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be back from 7pm (AEST) on Sunday Night with the women's final (remember, daylight savings comes to an end on Sunday for those affected by it) Be sure to join Connor Bennett from 12:30am (AEDT) for live coverage of New Zealand vs England in the first men's semi-final. Have a good evening!
Scott Pryde
Expert
MEG LANNING is the player of the match.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So then, the Southern Stars have fought back and will progress to the final for the fourth straight time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
AUSTRALIA WIN BY 5 RUNS Funnily enough, Farrell bowled that ball from behind the stumps I think. Full, outside off and cover driven for a few but it doesn't matter. Australia have the victory by just 5 runs. England - 7/127 (20) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Brilliant stuff from Farrel as she goes for the yorker and it squeezed out for a single. The next is a half volley, just outside off and worked into the leg side for a couple from Farrell. 8 from 1 ball and it is over. England - 7/125 (19.5) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full toss from Farrell and could have been a no ball. Not called and Wyatt gets a single down the ground. England - 7/122 (19.3) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Greenway takes a single down the ground from the first ball before Farrell goes wide and full, with Wyatt trying to hit down the ground, getting an inside edge and some good work from Healy keeps it to nothing. England - 7/121 (19.2) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great stuff this from Schutt and just a couple of singles to end the over. Australia look to be in the drivers seat here, but one ball can turn the whole thing around. England need 13. England - 7/120 (19) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Schutt has decided to come around the wicket to Greenway and she has started with an angled in full ball. Punched down to mid on and they grab a single. England - 7/118 (18.4) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
LYDIA GREENWAY next in.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! Jenny Gunn, Run out 1 (1) Gunn has worked this into the leg side, looking for a single and then coming back for a second but a good throw, another direct hit in fact will see Gunn on her way, England - 7/117 (18.3) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
JENNY GUNN now to the crease.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! - Katherine Brunt, Bowled Megan Shutt 11 (5) Brunt now comes down the track again, but too early and Schutt pitches a fraction shorter. Gets it very straight and she misses, with Schutt hitting. England - 6/116 (18.2) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR This is perfect placement from Brunt. Schutt has pitched it up, trying for the slower ball and Brunt has hit it hard through the covers for a boundary. England - 5/116 (18.1) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
MEGAN SCHUTT back for her final over.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, seemed pretty silly batting in all honesty.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Brunt comes down the wicket again and gets it off the pads for a single on the last ball of the over. Called leg byes and that six has brought it back into the calculations for England. 10 from it. England - 5/112 (18) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX Farrell gets this one a fraction wrong. Half volley and Brunt comes down the wicket just a fraction, heaving it over mid wicket. Boy did England need that one. England - 5/111 (17.5) Australia - 6/132 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Farrell bowling really well here, taking the pace off the ball and keeping it full. Just a couple of singles here. England - 5/105 (17.4) Australia - 6/132 (20)