WINDIES WOMEN MAKE SUPER SIX West Indies women, despite being beaten by 47 runs by Australia’s women in Sydney on Thursday, are through to the Super Six phase of the ICC’s Women’s World Cup cricket championship. Australia, sent in to bat, scored 211-7 off their 50-overs as Jamaica’s Stefanie Taylor took 2-35 while Anisa Mohammad and Shakera Selman also took two wickets each. Taylor returned to score 32 and Deandra Dottin 51, but the Windies women fell short at 164-7 off their 50-overs. New Zealand crushed South Africa by 199 runs, England beat Pakistan by eight wickets with 161 balls remaining and India beat Sri Lanka by 35 runs. The West Indies women are joined by New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Australia and England in the Super Six stage. The hosts and defending champions, with a much-changed batting order, managed to make 211-7 after being put into bat. Despite a defiant Deandra Dottin half century, the West Indies never really threatened in their run chase, finishing up on 164-6. Their disappointment at falling short is at least tempered by the fact they were already certain of a place in the Super Six stage, along with their opponents, and group winners New Zealand. Australia’s total was built on solid contributions from several players, Alex Blackwell top-scoring with 46 not out from the unusual position of number six in the order. Leah Poulton failed to make the most of her promotion, falling to the very first ball she faced from Shakera Selman, who finished with 2-28 from her 10 overs. However, Shelley Nitschke – who had previously had Blackwell as her opening partner – made 45 while Jodie Fields contributed 42. Despite wobbling at 130-6 when skipper Karen Rolton (two) became Anisa Mohammed’s second scalp, Blackwell and Ellyse Perry, who smacked five fours in her 35 not out, put on 57 in a hurry. Stafanie Taylor did her best to get the West Indies off to a good start in reply before being trapped lbw for 32 by spinner Lisa Sthalekar.
