Alyssa Healy striked her fourth one-day century in a great opening stand as Australia enters into the Women’s World Cup final with an enormous 157-run win over West Indies at Basin Reserve on Wednesday.
Australia will now compete either England or South Africa, who will meet on Thursday’s second semi-final, in Christchurch on Sunday.
The beginning of the game was held up by rain but Australia wasted no time in establishing their dominance when they were invited to bat, putting a total of 305 for three, of which 216-run opening partnership between Healy and Rachael Haynes.
Healy summed 129 off 107 balls, whilst Haynes made 85 off 100 prior departing to activate a mini collapse which Beth Mooney (43*) and Meg Lanning (26*) stemmed in a fourth-wicket partnership of 69.
“We came in expecting a very difficult game today and I think Healy and Haynes really set it up for us,” stated Lanning.
“We’ll certainly enjoy the win, but we came here to win the tournament so that’s what we’re looking for. We don’t mind who we play, they’re both pretty incredible teams.”
West Indies were not assisted by their poor fielding, whilst a hamstring injury sustained whilst trailing a ball to the boundary narrowing off spinner Anisa Mohammed to only two overs.
Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews both scored 34s in the trail and captain Stafanie Taylor summed 48 however West Indies were always behind the run rate required if they were to overtake the Australian tally.
Healy resumed her fine performance with a direct hit to run out Chedean Nation and, with Mohammed and Chinelle Henry not able to bat due to injury and illness, West Indies were eradicated for 148 in 37 overs.
“A big partnership deflates a whole team and that’s what Australia did,” stated Taylor.
“We needed someone to bat the whole innings and we never had that.”
