Australia, England and India completed the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up matches with victories.
Reigning champions Australia fought back with the ball, taking the West Indies’ final nine wickets for 17 runs to go into their title defence unbeaten in the warm-ups.
Lauren Bell and Sarah Glenn helped restrict New Zealand to 127 runs from their innings, then chasing it down comfortably.
Deepti Sharma made 35 not out before taking one wicket for just two runs as India defeated South Africa.
Kings leads Australia fightback
Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner were required to rescue Australia in a 35-run win over the West Indies.
Having been put into bat, four of Australia’s top six scored single figures, but Gardner built steadily amongst the chaos as she and Sutherland added 56 for the sixth wicket with Sutherland departing for 38.
Gardner (31) was the final wicket of the innings to fall, with Alana King crunching 21 off 13 to end the innings and help Australia to 144 for eight.
In response, Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph made 68 for the first wicket before Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle added 24 for the second.
From there, the wheels fell off the chase for the West Indies, with wickets coming in pairs in four of the final five overs, beginning with Campbelle (9) and Deandra Dottin (0) being dismissed from back-to-back Sutherland deliveries.
Matthews did what she could to resist, making 42 before she fell to leave Windies at 104 for 8.
Only five runs were added before the win was wrapped up for Australia thanks to King, who ended with four for 30.
Kerr’s efforts in vain
Opener Amelia Kerr’s 64 not out proved in vain for New Zealand as her side were unable to kick on in a five-wicket loss to England.
Lauren Bell struck first, dismissing Suzie Bates (3) and was economical in her three overs, conceding just 13 runs.
Sarah Glenn conceded just 16 from her full set of overs, also getting Sophie Devine caught behind for 24.
From there, the White Ferns stuttered before Izzy Gaze (26 not out) combined with Kerr to get New Zealand to 127 all out.
In response, England lost wickets at regular intervals but were always comfortable as the double-barrelled duo of Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt posted 35 and 31 respectively.
Sciver-Brunt was the last of England’s batters to depart with Dani Gibson finishing off the chase with 24 not out and three overs to spare.
Sharma shines for India
Ayabonga Khaka starred for South Africa with the ball but it was not enough in a 28-run defeat to India.
Khaka picked up a five-fer as South Africa restricted India to 144/7 from their 20 overs.
The seam bowler dismissed Shafali Verma for a duck, also removing the dangerous Harmanpreet Kaur (10) and Richa Ghosh, who top-scored with 36 from 25 balls.
Ghosh was one of three wickets to fall in the final over as Khaka denied India the chance to capitalise in the death overs, with only Deepti Sharma only able to hang on, making 35 not out.
However, South Africa were cautious in their reply, reaching the halfway stage having made just 56, with Laura Wolvaardt departing the eleventh over for 29.
Sharma conceded just two runs from her two overs before Chloe Tryon and Annerie Dercksen provided some late hope with 24 and 21 not out respectively but could not stop India from winning by 28 runs.
Scores in brief
West Indies v Australia – The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, The United Arab Emirates
Australia 144/8 in 20 overs (Annabel Sutherland 38, Ashleigh Gardner 31; Aaliyah Alleyne 2/24, Afy Fletcher 2/36)
West Indies 109 all out in 17.5 overs (Hayley Matthews 42, Qiana Joseph 36; Alan King 4/30, Tayla Vlaeminck 3/33)
Result: Australia won by 35 runs
England v New Zealand – ICC Academy Ground No 2, Dubai, The United Arab Emirates
New Zealand 127/4 in 20 overs (Melie Ker 64 not out, Izzy Gaze 26 not out; Lauren Bell 1/13, Sarah Glenn 1/16)
England 131/5 in 17 overs (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 35, Nat Sciver-Brunt 31; Lea Tahuhu 2/14, Rosemary Mair 2/22)
Result: England won by five wickets
South Africa v India – ICC Academy, Dubai, The United Arab Emirates
India 144/7 in 20 overs (Richa Ghosh 36, Deepti Sharma 35 not out; Ayabonga Khaka 5/25, Annerie Dercksen 1/13)
South Africa 116/6 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 29, Chloe Tryon 24; Asha Sobhana 2/21, Deepti Sharma 1/2)
Result: India won by 28 runs
Darkside Hooker
Wilfred Rhodes took 4,204 wickets in First Class cricket.
Nessie Pork
Rugby was originally called something else entirely – If historians are to be believed, the game we now know as rugby was initially played over 2,000 years ago by the Romans. The game was known by the Latin name Harpastum, derived from the Greek term for seize, which seems rather apt given the aim of the game.