The 6th match of women’s cricket at the Commonwealth Games between Australia and Barbados saw the former first go exceptionally well with the ball in hand and later topped it with a quality batting performance which now has Australia qualify through to the knockouts with a game in hand and Barbados remain alive with a big one to win against India.
1st innings : Barbados – 64/10 (20)
Australia having won the toss opt to ball and had their outing go by the desired script. Barbados had Deandra Dottin struggle, but Hayley Matthews start brilliantly by picking 4 boundaries off Darcie Brown’s bowling who then had the last laugh dismissing Matthews on 18(13). The Pair of Kycia Knight and Dottin saw off the powerplay safely with a score of 29-1. Dottin had a welcome boundary come off the last ball of the powerplay, but couldn’t make the most of it as Alana King was introduced and with instant impact struck Dottin on 8(22) before McGrath’s introduction from the other end saw Kycia depart on 9(11). Ashleigh Gardner after a good opening over in her next picked up a couple dismissing Kyshona Knight on 5(9) and Trishan Holder on 0(5) to reduce Barbados to 49-5 at the 12 over mark. Alana King in her 2nd over dismissed Aaliyah Alleyne on 8(9) as yet another Barbados batter failed to convert a start. Alana bowling her 3rd over picked up a couple in back-to-back deliveries dismissing Shakera Selman on 0(3) and Shamilia Connell on 0(1) before a dropped catch denied Alana King a hat-trick. Tahlia McGrath’s reintroduced saw her dismiss Alisa Scantlebury on 8(19) and Megan Schutt off the last delivery of the innings trap Keila Elliott on 2(13) to wrap the Barbados innings on 64 in 20 overs.
For Australia, every bowler had a day out and it remains Alana King with her 4 wickets top the wickets chart that had Tahlia McGrath with 3, Gardner with a couple and Darcie Brown with 1 follow. Special mentions to Schutt and Jonassen who remained wicketless but never let runs come easy as they registered economy rates of 3 and 2.3 respectively with Ashleigh Gardener registering the best economy rate of 1.5 in her 4 overs being a standout.
2nd innings : Australia – 68/1 (8.1)
Australia in reply chasing a low 64 lost Beth Mooney early on 2(6) off Shanika Bruce’s bowling and Kycia Knight’s stumping to give Barbados an early breakthrough. The proceedings progressed quietly, but only until Deandra Dottin was introduced as then it was Meg Lanning who smashed her for 25 in the over and finished the powerplay on a high with a score of 42-1. Alyssa Healy too joined the party in the very next over smashing a couple of boundaries and inching close to the total. The 50-run partnership was up between the duo off 39 balls as Healy with a couple more boundaries showed signs to have got gained her long-lost T20I form. With Australia requiring one run for the victory, Meg Lanning smashed a boundary to end Australia’s outing and seal the knockout spot. The unbeaten partnership between Alyssa Healy on 23(34) and Meg Lanning on 36(21) was worth 63 off 43 balls which saw Australia win by 9 wickets. For Barbados, the only wicket that’d come early in the innings by Shanika Bruce saw her placed on the wickets column.
Excellent from Australia to beat Barbados by 9 Wickets with over 11 overs remaining #CricketTwitter #B2022 pic.twitter.com/4fkfQ6rz8H
— Female Cricket #B2022 (@imfemalecricket) July 31, 2022
It again was yet another anticipated result with Australia’s win over Barbados, but what wasn’t expected was the ease and comprehensiveness. With the win, Australia have their place booked in the knockout. Whereas Barbados has got to play India which will be a contest for the ticket to the knockout, but importantly Barbados on priority has got to find a quick batting fix to remain alive in the tournament.
