| Australia 310-3 (50 overs): Haynes 130, Lanning 86, Sciver 2-68 |
| England 298-8 (50 overs): Sciver 109*, Beaumont 74, King 3-59 |
| Australia received by 12 runs |
| Scorecard |
England fell simply wanting a report chase in a nerve-shredding defeat by Australia in their opening match of the Women’s World Cup in Hamilton.
Set 311, the defending champions had been taken agonisingly shut by a powerful 109 not out from Nat Sciver.
Needing 16 from the ultimate over, bowled by Jess Jonassen, England might solely handle three to finish on 298-8 and lose by 12 runs.
On a day when Australia paid tribute to legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne and wicketkeeping nice Rod Marsh, the match favourites posted 310-3 – the very best complete by any group towards England.
Rachael Haynes compiled an outstanding 130 and captain Meg Lanning weighed in with 86.
England wanted 78 from 49 balls with solely 4 wickets in hand when Sciver was joined on the crease by Katherine Brunt.
Their hitting gave England an out of doors probability going into the ultimate over, however Australia bravely gave the ball to left-arm spinner Jonassen, who took a shocking one-handed return catch to dismiss Brunt and successfully finish the competition.
Though England endure yet one more defeat by the Australians, who went unbeaten in successful the Ashes earlier this yr, Heather Knight’s facet can take coronary heart from how far they pushed the match favourites.
England’s stiffest take a look at in the group stage is now behind them, and they need to nonetheless make progress in the direction of the semi-finals, beginning towards West Indies in Dunedin on Wednesday (22:00 GMT on Tuesday).
In Saturday’s different sport, South Africa prevented an upset towards World Cup debutants Bangladesh.
The Proteas had been bowled out for 207 however dismissed Bangladesh for 175 to win by 32 runs.
England give themselves an excessive amount of to do
In the three one-dayers in the Ashes, England didn’t handle a complete in extra of 178, so this batting show was massively encouraging.
In truth, England may marvel what might have been had they not invited stress by permitting Australia to bat first, then delivering a flat show in the sector.
Twice Sophie Ecclestone missed half-chances, the primary when she was gradual to maneuver at lengthy leg with Lanning on 26, after which as she caught a hand out at a pointy caught and bowled when Haynes had 73.
Nevertheless, England had been defiant with the bat, first by means of 74 from Tammy Beaumont and 40 from captain Knight.
When Sciver took up the combat, she discovered help from Sophia Dunkley and Brunt. Sciver reached three figures from solely 79 balls however, in the end, there was simply an excessive amount of to do.
Haynes stars earlier than King’s Warne tribute
It was a poignant event for Australia following the deaths of Warne and Marsh, with each groups observing a second of silence earlier than play started.
Haynes and Lanning had been excellent, judging the circumstances, operating exhausting, then unleashing an acceleration. With Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry taking part in cameos, Australia took 100 from the ultimate 10 overs.
Even as Beaumont, Sciver and Knight had been maintaining England afloat, there was by no means the sense that Australia would lose management.
Fittingly, it was leg-spinner Alana King, like Warne born in Victoria, who made a telling contribution.
Her dipping, fizzing supply to Beaumont was Warne-esque, pitching exterior leg stump to beat the surface edge and off stump. Alyssa Healy, the niece of Warne’s former Australia team-mate Ian, eliminated the bails and King pointed to the black armband she was carrying.
King adopted up by having Amy Jones caught at mid-wicket, and bowling Dunkley behind her legs as she tried a pre-meditated sweep.
Jonassen had conceded 16 from solely two earlier overs, so it was a daring resolution to belief her with the ultimate set.
However, the catch she produced to dismiss Brunt, sticking up her left hand to hold on to a bullet, was worthy of successful any match.
‘I’m not down about it’ – what they stated
England captain Heather Knight informed BBC Sport: “I’m actually impressed, notably with how the batting unit went about issues.
“It’s not the tip of the world, shedding the primary sport. There are some things we might tighten up with in our bowling, however our bowling unit is so robust, I’m not anxious about that. I’m not too down about it.”
England all-rounder Nat Sciver: “I’m a bit pissed off we could not recover from the road. From the Ashes, the batters wished to make a shift in our mindset, which we’ve finished. That’s actually a optimistic.”
Player of the match Rachael Haynes: “There’s a little bit of aid. We can take loads of classes out of as we speak. We had been a bit bit off in the sector, nevertheless it’s good to get that first win.”
