By Deepika Sarma
It’s all getting very, very exciting. We know who’s in the semi-finals now: it’s Australia vs. England today (2.30pm, in Ferozeshah Kotla, Delhi) and New Zealand vs. West Indies tomorrow (2.30pm, Wankhede Stadium Mumbai)! And the winners of each match head to the finals on Sunday at Eden Gardens, Kolkata!
You’ve already read about the first half of the group stage matches. Read on for more about the next bunch of matches that got these four teams to the top.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh
It was four straight losses for Bangladesh this T20 World Cup, but you can’t fault them for not trying their very best. They were 113 for 9 wickets at the end of their innings. In the second innings, Sidra Ameen scored her maiden half-century in an international T20, and Pakistan won with a score of 114 for one wicket.
India vs West Indies
This was the match that meant West Indies had made it to the semi-finals. India’s run at the World Cup, on the other hand, ended. At Mohali, West Indies were 114 for 8, with a great partnership between captain Stafanie Taylor (47 runs) and Deandra Dottin (45 runs). India’s innings began with a loss of two wickets and a peppy start by middle-order batter Veda Krishnamurthy, but it all went downhill pretty quickly as India’s batters just weren’t able to find the gaps in fielding or hit the big shots they badly needed. India only managed 111 for 9 wickets, even with a massive crowd streaming in midway and the Indian men’s team, who were to play Australia next, cheering them on.
India vs England
If you’re an India fan, you might have had your heart broken on March 22. In what felt like a flashback to the match against Pakistan just days earlier, India started badly in Dharamshala, making just 90 runs and losing 8 wickets. Then they found their footing during England’s innings and looked like they had a very real shot at winning, but lost in a nail-biting finish. England ended with 92 runs for 8 wickets.
England vs West Indies
It was another extremely close match for England, who scraped past West Indies with 109 for 9 wickets. West Indies, who batted first, scored 108 for 4 wickets after captain Stafanie Taylor was slow to score, though she made the most runs by a batter in either team.
Now that it’s over, here’s how each team in Group B fared:
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And what about Group A?
New Zealand vs South Africa
After New Zealand’s thrilling rout of Australia, they had just one match left against South Africa in Bangalore. They won with ease, beating South Africa’s 99 all out with 100 for 3 wickets. Bowlers Sophie Devine and Leigh Kasperek took 3 wickets each.
South Africa vs Sri Lanka
It was another loss for South Africa as Sri Lanka stepped up their game with a great all-round performance. Sri Lanka batted first, scoring 114 for 7 wickets, which South Africa just couldn’t beat. They were 10 runs short, with 104 for 7 wickets. Sri Lanka’s Chamari Attapattu, who was Player of the Match, scored 52 runs and took a wicket.
South Africa vs Ireland
It wasn’t all doom for South Africa at this World Cup. Proteas had a 67-run win over Ireland, with Trisha Chetty scoring 35 runs and Sune Luus, who was Player of the Match, taking 5 wickets. Solid performances by Ireland’s Clare Shillington and captain Isobel Joyce weren’t enough for Ireland, who ended their chase with 89 for 9 wickets.
Australia vs Ireland
It was all doom for Ireland though. With only a small score of 91 for 7 wickets from Ireland, Australia had no trouble chasing it down, making 92 for 3 wickets. Ireland lost every match they played, but has hopefully grown from the exposure.
Australia vs Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring a solid 123 for 8 wickets. But Australia sailed past their total with ease, making 125 and conceding only 1 wicket. Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani both hit half-centuries, with 56 and 53 respectively.
With New Zealand the clear topper here, here’s how the others performed:
So there you have it, folks. An exciting finish to the group stage, with plenty of broken hearts strewn along the way.
Now upwards and onwards to the semi-finals!