Southern Stars into semis despite defeat

Updated October 02, 2012 09:48:09

Defending champion Australia has lost its last group match of the women's World Twenty20, going down by seven wickets to England in Galle.

The Southern Stars won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 5 for 144 from 20 overs with opener Meg Lanning scoring 39 runs from 31 balls and veteran Lisa Sthalekar contributing 38 off 28.

Despite an early breakthrough by Julie Hunter, England knocked off the runs with 11 balls to spare.

Sarah Taylor, the number one ranked women's T20 batter, played a great innings hitting 65 off 53 balls to help England's successful chase.

Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields, who took a great one-handed catch, was disappointed with the loss.

"It felt like we were right in the match right up until the last couple of overs. Our batting innings went the way we wanted it to do, we aimed for 140 and we got that target," she said.

"We have a really strong batting order and we can bat from one to 11 and I was really happy with the batting performance today.

"I guess we need to come out of this loss now and train hard over the next two days and look towards the next match."

Australia will play the West Indies in the semi-finals on Friday.

"The West Indies are a strong team and we were lucky enough to play them in a warm-up match which gave us an idea about how we can play against them," Fields added.

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka, australia

First posted October 02, 2012 08:15:15

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Sri Lanka sliding towards crushing defeat

Updated January 06, 2012 07:38:38

Sri Lanka was nearing an innings defeat after losing 12 wickets on the third day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town.

Following on, the tourists were 4 for 138 at the close, still 203 runs short of making South Africa bat again.

South Africa's fast bowlers, backed by the leg spin of Imran Tahir, put Sri Lanka's batsmen under inexorable pressure after the first two days of the decisive Test were dominated by batsmen.

"The South African attack didn't give us a chance to relax at any time," admitted Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal, who made a fighting 35 in the first innings.

"The batsmen had to concentrate hard and were always under pressure."

Only six wickets fell while 729 runs were scored in the first two days but it was a complete contrast on Thursday as 12 wickets fell for 228 runs despite conditions remaining largely favourable for batting.

Sri Lanka was bowled out for 239 in its first innings, with fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander taking three wickets apiece.

After missing the second Test in Durban, where Sri Lanka pulled off a shock win to level the series, Philander slotted right back into the attack, bowling a tight line and making a crucial breakthrough during a spell of one for three in six overs.

South Africa led by 341 runs on the first innings and Philander struck again in the fourth over of the follow-on when Tillekeratne Dilshan drove loosely at a ball which moved away, edging a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Philander admitted that it was a challenge for the bowlers to have to bowl in two successive innings on a pitch which he said lacked pace.

"Having such a big lead we obviously had to make them follow on," said Philander, who took his tally of wickets in his first four Tests to 28, with the possibility of more to come on Friday.

"Tomorrow morning will be a whole new ball game.

"The boys will be fresh again and the legs will be ready to go."

Sri Lanka collapsed in its first innings, losing 8 for 90 after resuming on 2 for 149.

Steyn took 3 for 56 and Philander 3 for 46.

Both bowled superbly with Steyn's figures for the day an impressive 3 for 16 off eight overs, while Philander was even better, his three wickets costing 12 runs off nine overs.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, south-africa, sri-lanka

First posted January 06, 2012 07:22:05

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