Healy stars as Aussies reach T20 decider

Alyssa Healy claimed her fourth player-of-the-match award in five games as Australia's women beat the West Indies to reach the World T20 final against England.

Australia are one win from reclaiming the women's World Twenty20 title after Alyssa Healy shook off a concussion to power her country to a fifth straight decider.

Fresh off their 71-run flogging of the West Indies on Friday morning (AEDT), the Aussies will face England in Sunday's final with Healy seemingly unconcerned by week-long conjecture over her fitness.

Cleared to play hours before the semi-final, Healy claimed her fourth player-of-the-match award in five games as she top-scored in Australia's 5-142 before the hosts were rolled for 71 in Antigua.

Her 46 from 38 balls was backed up with three dismissals with the gloves, including a nifty run-out to start the rot when opener Hayley Matthews (5) left her crease after defending a ball from Sophie Molineux.

It came five days after her collision with Megan Schutt, which sidelined her with a mild concussion for the second half of Australia's loss to India.

"I was really, really lucky. I really didn't get many concussion symptoms," Healy said.

"I simply had a sore neck from the whiplash ... I did all the right things as well to give my mind a break and let it refresh and replenish and go today."

Healy's knock kept her atop the tournament's run-scorers list with 203 at an average of 67.66 and strike rate of 149.26.

She wasn't alone as the match swung at the end of Australia's innings when Rachael Haynes (25 not out from 15) helped take 17 off one Deandra Dottin over to forge a competitive total on a turning wicket.

Ellyse Perry helped end the hosts' chase before it really began, sending down a rare wicket-maiden in the third over of the West Indies to bowl Dottin with a quick off-cutter.

She finished with 2-2 from two overs, with Shemaine Campbelle her second scalp when she was caught pulling at square leg for seven at a sold-out Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Stefanie Taylor (16 off 28) was the only host to reach double figures before Molineux (1-14) had her caught, while Delissa Kimmince (2-17) and Ashleigh Gardner (2-15) claimed two scalps.

The win keeps Australia's hopes of restocking their trophy cabinet alive against an England side who overcame India on Friday, after dropping the World T20 in 2016 and one-day World Cup last year.

"I'd be lying if I sat here and said we haven't got scars. After the last couple of World Cups to be ranked No. 1 in the world and not have a trophy is sort of something we were looking to rectify," Healy said.

"For us to go out there and execute exactly what we wanted to is just really pleasing."


Share
3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Healy stars as Aussies reach T20 decider | SBS News