Australia Women have registered their 6th consecutive win at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand to retain the title of table toppers. Australia has already qualified for the semi-final with the win over India Women in their previous outing. Currently, no team has posed a threat to their superiority in the tournament.
Australia Women won the toss and preferred to bowl first on the back of an extraordinary chase against Indian Women. South Africa Women batted quite handsomely and posted a competitive total of 271/5 on the scoreboard. Wolvaarrdt and Sune Luus brought individual half-centuries to put Proteas in a commanding position at the halfway mark in the match.
Wolvaardt fell only 10 short of what would have been a magnificent hundred against the top-class bowling attack of Australia Women. She scored a vital 90 runs off 134 deliveries to power the South African total. On the other hand, Sune Luus played an enterprising knock of 52 off 51 deliveries, comprising 6 boundaries.
Marizanne Kapp once again announced herself as an able all-rounder who can finish strongly in the death overs. She notched an unbeaten 30 off just 17 deliveries to form a formidable 43* run stand for the 6th wicket with C Tryon. Five of the seven bowlers they tried picked one wicket each for Australia Women, with Alana King being the most economical.
Chasing a mammoth 272, Australia Women lost Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy with only 45 runs on the scoreboard. The Australian was in a precarious situation, but Meg Lanning, the Australian captain, brought them out of it and dominated the entire chase with her exquisite strokeplay. Lanning scored an unbeaten 135* off 130 deliveries, including 15 fours and a massive six to take her side comfortably over the finish line.
Australia Women chased down the total with more than four overs and five wickets to spare. For South Africa, Ismail and Tryon accounted for two wickets each. The Proteas have conceded their first loss of the tournament but still sits at number 2 in the points table with 4 wins in 5 matches.
Also Read: Women’s CWC 2022: Australia Defeated India in Last-Over Nail-Biter