2 hours ago
Sophie Molineux’s Australian team, without a world title to their name, look wished to put matters correct astatine nan Women’s T20 World Cup, if nan ruthless mode of their warm-up wins is thing to spell by.
After crushing tourney hosts England connected Monday, world No 1 Australian hammered West Indies by six wickets successful Cardiff for their past warmup lucifer connected Wednesday (Thursday AEST) earlier launching their run against South Africa this weekend.
Molineux said she was happy pinch her team’s preparations arsenic 7 of her 8 bowlers helped themselves to a wicket successful bowling retired nan West Indies for 131 earlier nan in-form Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll helped them make ray activity of nan chase.
Mooney, who had hammered 43 against England, this clip eased to 34 disconnected 18 balls earlier Australia decided to discontinue their left-handed ace to springiness a fewer different batters a chance.
Ellyse Perry, top-scorer pinch 64 against England, fell for five, while Ash Gardner (seven) and Georgia Wareham (one) some missed out, but Queenslander Voll, aft a scratchy start, showed why she is nan world’s top-ranked T20 batter arsenic she blitzed 77no disconnected 48 balls, pinch 10 fours and 2 sixes.
The 22-year-old sewage Australia location connected 132-4 pinch 5 overs to spare arsenic Molineux’s broadside looked really crisp successful each facets of nan crippled arsenic they activity to regain nan title nan South Africans ripped from them successful nan 2024 Dubai semi-finals.
“I felt for illustration location was a fewer bits and pieces we wanted to tick off, and we did today,” Molineux said.
“All astir I was pleased, and particularly to beryllium capable to propulsion disconnected a pursuit for illustration that clinically. It’s bully to spot Volly get immoderate runs; she’s been looking beautiful good, but hadn’t had that people yet, truthful to spot her beryllium capable to return nan crippled connected and deed nan shot cleanly, really happy astir that.
“My body’s good. We’ve been rotating done bowlers pinch minimal lucifer prep, truthful everyone’s had a bully stint retired successful nan middle, and it was bully to get a bowl
Molineux took 1-19 disconnected her 3 overs, joining Kim Garth (1-13), Lucy Hamilton (2-19), Perry (1-16), Nicola Carey (1-11), Wareham (1-10) and Gardner (2-17) successful nan wickets column. Only Alana King (0-21) missed out.
Wareham was a standout pinch 1 sensational Warne-esque transportation that bamboozled and cleanable bowled Hayley Matthews and a superb pickup-and-throw-down pinch conscionable 1 stump to purpose astatine to tally retired nan threatening Deandra Dottin connected 46.
Musing connected nan action dilemmas earlier Saturday’s ngo against nan Proteas, Molineux said “it’s tricky, but you wouldn’t want it immoderate different way.
“In tourney play, you person to beryllium capable to play 15 players astatine immoderate constituent successful time, truthful it was good. We’re really pleased pinch really nan past mates of weeks of prep has gone.
“It is simply a large crippled against South Africa, and I don’t deliberation we want it immoderate different way. Coming into nan World Cup, knowing that we’re playing against nan people outfit, we cognize that we person to commencement really sharp. We’re each beautiful quiet conscionable to get retired location and get it going.”
The West Indies were near pinch a interest complete prima allrounder Chinelle Henry, who took a nasty tumble successful nan section and had to beryllium carried off. “We’re crossing fingers she’ll beryllium OK,” Matthews said.
Earlier astatine Cardiff, England (6-171, pinch Amy Jones scoring 64 and skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt 57) had edged retired India by 5 runs, bowling them retired for 166 and past conscionable holding disconnected Richa Ghosh’s precocious complaint pinch 68 disconnected 36 balls.
