ICC women’s world cup: West Indies face Aus, Eng to battle SA in semifinals

The ICC women’s world cup semi-finals will see West Indies go up against Australia at the Basin Reserve cricket ground in Wellington, New Zealand, on March 30. Meanwhile, England will face South Africa on March 31, at the Hagley Oval, in Christchurch. 

Following Australia, SA became the second team to qualify, for the world cup semi-finals after the match against West Indies at Hagley, was abandoned due to rain. Both teams were awarded a point each, ahead of India’s fixture against South Africa. The match, which took place Sunday, ended in a nailbiter with Mithila Raj and company bowing out. 

England was the first team that qualified after their rocky win over Bangladesh at the tournament. Sophia Dunkley came to the rescue with a maiden fifty in the match to take the team’s score from 96 for four, to set a target of 235 for Bangladesh. Thus far, England has only suffered three defeats in the tournament.

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Among the semi-finalists, SA will be looking to recapture its form that sent India crashing. A stellar partnership between Laura Wolvaardt (80) and Lara Goodall (49) set up the innings, and Mignon du Preez took it over the finish line, scoring 52 runs without getting out. 

West Indies, which has played seven matches, winning three and losing the other three, with one being declared over, due to rains, have their job cut out for them. Their semi-final contenders, Australia, haven’t lost a single match in the entire tournament. 

Predicted squads 

Australia: Meg Lanning (captain), Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Nicola Carey, Annabel Sutherland, Alyssa Healy (wicketkeeper), Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper), Darcie Brown, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, Amanda Wellington

West Indies: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Cherry Ann Fraser, Rashada Williams, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Shemaine Campbelle, Kycia Knight, Chedean Nation, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamila Connell, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman.

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England: Heather Knight (captain), Danielle Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Natalie Sciver, Tammy Beaumont (wicketkeeper), Amy Ellen Jones, Emma Lamb, Lauren Winfield Hill, Freya Davies, Charlotte Dean, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Natasha Farrant, Anya Shubsole.

South Africa: Sune Luus (captain), Laura Wolvaardt, Mignon du Preez, Lara Goodall, Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Lizelle Lee (wicketkeeper), Sinalo Jafta, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Shabnim Ismail, Tumi Sekhukhune