NEW DELHI, March 30: Defending champions Australia made a dramatic comeback against old foes England to enter their fourth successive Women�s World Twenty20 final with a five-run win here today.
Chasing 133, England were cruising at 87 for one before they self destructed against their fighting opponents to end at 127 for seven in 20 overs. Put in to bat, Australia captain Meg Lanning (55 off 50 balls) guided her team to 132 for six before the bowlers led by medium pacer Megan Schutt (2/15) pulled off a sensational victory for the team that has pocketed the last three World T20 titles.
England needed 13 off the final over but Schutt bowled miserly to seal the issue for her side. It was hard to imagine an Australian win with the kind of start that the English team got.
The in-form opening pair of Charlotte Edwards (31) and Tammy Beaumont (32) provided a brisk start to take England to 50-run mark in just seven overs.
This kind of stroke play was seldom seen in the tournament prior to today�s game but England openers gave the sparse crowd at the Feroz Shah Kotla plenty to cheer for.
Edwards, the team�s leading run-getter in the tournament, carried her sublime touch to the crunch game and was ably supported by Beaumont. Beaumont started with a fine flick off medium pacer Ellyse Perry in the second over before smashing her for a six over square leg three overs later.
SCORECARD
Australia: A Healy lbw b Marsh 25, E Villani lbw b Sciver 19, M Lanning run out (Shrubsole) 55, E Perry c Knight b Sciver 10, A Blackwell run out (Sciver) 11, J Jonassen c & b Gunn 4, B Mooney not out 1; Extras: (B-1, LB-1, W-4, NB-1) : 7; Total: (for 6 wickets in 20 overs): 132; Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-50, 3-86, 4-123, 5-130, 6-132; Bowling: Brunt 3-0-25-0, Shrubsole 4-0-27-0, Marsh 4-0-18-1, Sciver 3-0-22-2, Gunn 4-0-22-1, Knight 2-0-16-0
England: C Edwards c Lanning b Beams 31, T Beaumont c Lanning b Schutt 32, S Taylor c Healy b Farrell 21, N Sciver b Perry 0, H Knight c Villani b Osborne 1, D Wyatt not out 10, K Brunt b Schutt 11, J Gunn run out (Schutt) 1, L Greenway not out 3; Extras: (B-5, LB-6, W-6): 17; Total: (for 7 wickets in 20 overs): 127; Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-89, 3-91, 4-97, 5-103, 6-116, 7-117; Bowling: Jonassen 3-0-27-0, Perry 4-0-20-1, Schutt 4-0-15-2, Farrell 4-0-26-1, Beams 4-0-23-1, Osborne 1-0-5-1. � PTI
