Top Performers :
1) Alyssa Healy – Coming from a below-average performance in KSL, the dynamic player was back to her best, playing for the national team. She scored a scintillating knock of 122 runs in just 106 balls including 12 fours and 2 sixes. This was her second century in ODI career.
2) Meg Lanning – The Southern Stars Skipper continued her terrific form from Ashes, even she scored a Century. This was her 13th ODI Ton which included 12 fours and 4 sixes.
3) Ellyse Perry – The all-rounder from Sydney was as usual best with the bowl as she picked up 3 wickets in the match. she knocked out the top order of the Windies team.
Summary :
Centuries from Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning helped Southern Stars to win against Windies by a huge margin of 178 runs at the CC ground in Antigua, on Thursday.
Winning the toss, Stafanie Taylor opted to field on a solid batting surface, which was tailor-made for batting.
Opening the inning, Australians were off to a shocker as Rachael Haynes got out on the very 1st ball of the match to Connell. However, it did not matter much as the duo of Healy and Lanning had a serious partnership of 225 runs. This is the highest Second wicket partnership for Australia, which was more dominated by Healy. Alyssa Healy got to the 2nd century of her ODI career in just 95 balls. She ended up scoring 122 runs including 12 fours and 2 sixes. On the other side Skipper, Meg Lanning continued her form from Ashes as she brought up the 13th ODI century of her career, she became the fastest player to score 13 centuries in just 76 games. Her innings of 121 included 12 fours and 4 sixes.
In the end, Elyse Perry played a fine cameo of 33 not out which helped Australia to set a huge target of 309. For Windies, it was Shamilia Connell, who bowled well for her figures of 2 for 53.
Chasing the target Windies were never in the game as the Allrounder Elyse perry cleaned up the top order of Windies as three of the top four batters departed for a duck. It was only Windies Skipper Taylor who scored an unbeaten 70 runs, which helped windows to cross 100 figure mark, she did not get any support from the rest other batters. In the end, Windies were rolled out for 130 for 10 in 38 overs. Perry was the pick of the bowlers for Aussies with 3 wickets, Wareham picked 2 wickets and rest all chipped in with a wicket.
With this win, Australia picked up another two points in the ODI championship which almost equals England, it looks like they will surpass England soon.
Brief Scores: Australia 308 for 5 ( Healy 122, Lanning 121 and Connell 2 for 53) defeated Windies 130 All-Out ( S.Taylor 70 *, Perry 3 for 17) by 178 runs.
