Australia continue Women’s World Cup charge despite wobble against West Indies

Rachael Haynes held firm as a wobbly Australia claimed a seven-wicket World Cup win over the West Indies. Australia were 7-2 chasing the West Indies’ meagre 131 all out at the Basin Reserve, with Alyssa Healy (3) and Meg Lanning (0) caught cold in the icy Wellington wind.

But Haynes, the leading runscorer at the tournament, ensured there would be no capitulation, steering Australia to victory with an unbeaten 81. The day belonged to the bowlers, with Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner both taking three wickets to blitz the West Indies.

Perry was the early destroyer in Wellington, claiming two wickets in her first over to finish with 3-22. Allrounder Gardner then joined in with 3-25, including the crucial dismissal of West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor.

With Darcie Brown – the White Ferns’ chief irritant – rested, Lanning instead elected to use Perry with the wind in Wellington. Perry started with a pair of wides before swinging a beautifully pitched ball past Hayley Matthews and into the top of her off-stump.

Perry had Kycia Knight caught behind the next ball, and went on to claim the dangerous Deandra Dottin for 16 in a marathon eight-over stint from the scoreboard end.

World No 1 ranked ODI bowler Jess Jonassen was restored to the side along with Annabel Sutherland for Brown and Amanda-Jade Wellington, but it was allrounder Gardner did the damage through the middle order.

Gardner – in her second match back after catching Covid-19 – tempted Shemaine Campbelle into a rash shot and then bowled Chedean Nation to leave West Indies 70-5. An unfortunate run out did not help them and they were unable to build partnerships all afternoon.

Taylor spent 39 overs at the crease but lost partner after partner on her way to 50 before