Australia Women continued their winning ways as they whipped Barbados by 9 wickets in their second T20 international at the Commonwealth Games at Edgbaston on Sunday. The day began with Barbados and Australia at the top of Group A. However, with India’s mammoth win over Pakistan in the morning game catapulting them to top position, both teams were eagerly looking for their second win to inch closer towards a semi-final spot. With an unchanged team from their first victory, Aussie skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bowl first. Barbados skipper Hayley Matthews indicated she would have liked to bowl first as well and noted one team change: spinner Keila Elliot in for Aaliyah Williams.
Barbados offers little fight
Deandra Dottin and Matthews opened the innings with their experience a crucial factor for posting a competitive total. Matthews took a liking to Darcie Brown as she dispatched her for four boundaries within her first two overs. However, Brown won the battle as Matthews soon lost patience and skied a shorter delivery, leading to her demise for a quick 18 off 13 balls. On the other end, Dottin began circumspectly as the Aussies continued to bowl tight lines and lengths to a player who once scored a century off 38 balls. Her first boundary came off the final ball of the powerplay which saw Barbados post just 29 for the loss of 1 wicket after the first six overs.
Dottin’s laboured innings soon ended as she was undone by the leg-spin of Alana King for an uncharacteristic 8 off 22. The Knight sisters did not trouble the scorers much. Kycia could not continue her form from the first game and departed for just 9 while Kyshona perished for 5 offering a simple catch to mid-wicket. King and Ashleigh Gardner ran through the inexperienced middle order while the tailenders offered some resistance, but not significant enough for a big score. Barbados could only muster 64 when their last wicket fell on the final ball of their allotted twenty overs.
Aussies romp home
The Aussies suffered an early setback in their reply as Shanika Bruce claimed her first international wicket of Beth Mooney in her first over. However, Alyssa Healy and captain Lanning were intent on seeing the Aussies home. The pair motored along with Lanning taking Dottin for 25 runs in the last over of the powerplay. Healy joined in the fun smashing four boundaries as their pair put on 63 runs together to see their team home.
Barbados faces a tough task on Wednesday 3 August as they will have to beat India to secure a semi-final spot. The match bowls off at 1 pm local time.
BARBADOS WOMEN 64 all out (20 overs)
Hayley Matthews 18 (13)
Deandra Dottin 8 (22)
Alana King 4/8 (4 overs)
Tahlia McGrath 3/13 (4 overs)
Ashleigh Gardner 2/6 (4 overs)
AUSTRALIA WOMEN 68/1 (8.1 overs)
Meg Lanning 36 (21)
Alyssa Healy 23 (24)
Shanika Bruce 1/7 (2 overs)
