ICC Women’s World Cup 2009
England v West Indies
Drummoyne Oval
England Women reached their first World Cup Final in 16 years as they beat the West Indies by 146 runs today at the Drummoyne Oval.
Photos by Christopher Lee
Charlotte Edwards' side were indebted to Claire Taylor's swashbuckling half-century having collapsed from 134 without loss to 145 for four amid some indecisive batting. The number one batter in women's cricket smashed a quick fire 64 off just 56 balls as England reached 236 for eight which included an attractive 78 from Sarah Taylor and a solid fifty from Caroline Atkins.
West Indies never looked likely to get close despite some lusty hitting from Deandra Dottin and Pamela Lavine. For England, their first appearance in a World Cup Final since the class of 1993, the opponents for which will be known on Thursday.
On a sunny morning, England captain Charlotte Edwards won the toss and opted to bat first at the picturesque ground. Sarah Taylor, kicked off England’s scoring with a sparking cover drive in the first over which raced along the dew covered outfield. Caroline Atkins followed in her partner's slipstream as England rattled along to 40 without loss from eight overs.
England's progress was checked when West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira, who used nine bowlers, made a double change, introducing the highly regarded 17-year-old off-spinner Stafanie Taylor and veteran medium pacer Pamela Lavine.
Taylor and Atkins found scoring much harder against the slower bowlers and with pressure growing were forced into some kamikaze running which, had West Indies' throwing been more accurate England might have been in trouble.
West Indies twice dropped catches off Atkins but the England pair clung on, Taylor bringing up her first fifty of the competition, off 81 balls, before she rediscovered her boundary touch, effortlessly lifting Kirbyina Alexander back over her head to bring up the third century stand between the pair.
She then climbed into a short delivery from the same bowler and dispatched it towards the pavilion for four. Taylor was now in full flow, skipping down the wicket moments later and punching Mohammed over cover for another boundary.
With a century seemingly there for the taking, Taylor was run out for 78 by a rare direct hit, Shanel Daley throwing down the stumps from short third man to end an excellent opening stand. Daley sprung a double blow in the next over when she bowled Atkins, who had just reached a patient half-century - her third of the tournament - as the opener attempted a drive.
England stuttered slightly, losing their third wicket for as many runs when Lydia Greenway dragged on off Afy Fletcher for a duck. Beth Morgan was next to go, bowled playing back to one that kept low from Daley as England slumped to 145 for four in the 37th over.
Claire Taylor relieved some of the pressure by creaming a long hop from Fletcher for six over long-on and she pulled the same bowler through mid-on in the following over as England prepared to launch a late onslaught. Jenny Gunn perished in the 45th over when an attempted sweep-slog off Fletcher fell into Taylor's lap as she patrolled the boundary.
Claire Taylor marched on and swept her namesake for six over midwicket before taking ten off three balls from Daley's next over, which included a sumptuous drive to bring up her 19th ODI half-century which arrived off just 46 deliveries.
Charlotte Edwards was bowled in the late search for runs but Taylor remained, peppering the cover boundary to take England well beyond the 200-mark before eventually being given out leg before. Holly Colvin was run-out first ball by Lavin who fielded well off her own bowling before calmly taking aim and throwing down the stumps, but consecutive boundaries by Laura Marsh further bolstered the England total.
West Indies' reply got off to the worst start possible when Aguilleira was run-out by Nicky Shaw attempting a run. At the other end Taylor conjured up the shot of the day when she lofted Jenny Gunn for a straight six, but there were few moments of cheer for the side coached by former Test batsman Sherwin Campbell.
Gunn however got her revenge for that huge shot when Taylor's sliced drive looped straight to Greenway at gully. West Indies plunged further into trouble when Katherine Brunt castled Danielle Small to leave the batting side 19 for three. Just three more runs were added when West Indies suffered another setback, Colvin getting in on the act to trap Charlene Taitt leg before.
Dottin and Lavine staged a mini-recovery with the former cracking Nicky Shaw for two sweetly timed drives before heaving a free-hit from Colvin high over the midwicket boundary.
But the resistance was brief as first Shaw induced Dottin to get a feint edge which Taylor caught smartly standing up, then Marsh pinned Lavine in front to reduce West Indies to 68 for six. Marsh completed a double strike en route to 3-17- figures that took her to 13 wickets for the tournament - when Alexandra chipped straight to Atkins.
Edwards brought herself into the attack, perhaps in a bid to get the job over with, and soon cleaned up Fletcher in her sixth over from the River End before Marsh completed the rout with Daley unable to bat.
After the game Player of the Match Sarah Taylor commented: “Once I’d got past the half century mark I felt my own game improved and I was able to push on to make 78. I was ably supported by Carline Atkins at the other end and we were pleased to forge another opening partnership of more than 100.
“I’m so excited about securing a place in the World Cup final but know that Thursday’s game against Australia will still be a tough contest. We’ll still be looking for a win there and continue to look to improve our game.”
