Narrow win puts women in semis

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

An irrepressible West Indies side strode gallantly into the semi-finals of the Women's World Twenty20 Championship, when they pulled off a dramatic last-over win over England yesterday to send the title-holders crashing from the tournament.

After posting a disappointing 122 for eight from their 20 overs, they produced a sterling bowling effort to amazingly restrict a strong English batting unit to 120 for nine, to snatch an exciting two-run victory at Warner Park.

The hosts were led by a superb spell from off-spinner Anisa Mohammed, who grabbed two for nine in four stingy overs, while 17-year-old medium pacer Shemaine Campbelle supported with a brilliant four-over spell of two for 15.

Successive deliveries

Medium pacer Deandra Dottin, who removed the dangerous pair of Beth Morgan (1) and Jenny Gunn (0) with successive deliveries in the 10th over, claimed two for 31 while Stafanie Taylor finished with two for 37.

Earlier, the Windies women's batting fizzled after they were sent in and only opener Nero showed any defiance with 32 from 38 balls.

They lost Cordel Jack cheaply for four with the score on 11 in the fourth over before Nero and Taylor (18) added 45 for the second wicket.

Off-spinner Laura Marsh accounted for both in the 11th over, triggering a collapse that saw four wickets tumble for 22 runs in the space of 19 balls, before Britney Cooper (20) and Shanel Daley (14) attacked to add 30 from 18 balls for the sixth wicket.

Meanwhile, Australia took a giant step towards the semi-finals when they defeated South Africa by 24 runs at Warner Park yesterday.

Sent in to bat, Australia were dismissed for 155 off 19.3 overs but the Proteas women failed to find their gear and could only muster 131 for seven from their overs.