Dubai, 2 October (HIST). Australia, England and India registered wins in their respective warm-up matches in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024. Reigning champions Australia bowled brilliantly and took West Indies' last nine wickets for 17 runs and remained unbeaten in the practice matches. Thanks to the excellent bowling of Lauren Bell and Sarah Glenn, England restricted New Zealand to 127 runs and then achieved the target easily. At the same time, Deepti Sharma scored unbeaten 35 runs and took one wicket for two runs as India defeated South Africa.
Australia beat West Indies by 35 runs
Thanks to the excellent performance of Annabel Sutherland and Ashley Gardner, Australia defeated West Indies by 35 runs.
After losing the toss and opting to bat first, four of the top six batsmen of the Australian team could not even touch double figures, but Gardner scored runs, he and Sutherland added 56 runs for the sixth wicket, in which Sutherland was out after scoring 38 runs. Gardner (31) was out as the last wicket, while Alana King scored 21 runs in 13 balls. Australia scored 144 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs.
In reply, Hayley Matthews and Kianna Joseph added 68 runs for the first wicket, while Matthews (42) and Shamen Campbell added 24 runs for the second wicket. However after this, the West Indies innings faltered, with 8 wickets falling in four of the last five overs. King took four wickets for 30 runs.
Kerr's half-century innings went in vain
Opener Emilia Kerr's unbeaten 64 proved in vain for New Zealand as their team lost to England by five wickets. New Zealand scored 127 runs thanks to the innings of Kerr and Izzy Gage (26 not out).
In reply, England lost wickets at regular intervals, but the pair of Danny Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt scored with ease. Siever Brunt along with Danny Gibson scored 24 runs and led the team to victory with three overs remaining.
Thanks to the excellent performance of Deepti Sharma, India defeated South Africa by 28 runs.
Ayabonga Khaka bowled brilliantly for South Africa, but could not prevent a 28-run defeat against India. Khaka took five wickets as South Africa restricted India to 144/7 in 20 overs.
The fast bowler dismissed Shafali Verma for a duck, and also dismissed the dangerous Harmanpreet Kaur (10) and Richa Ghosh. Ghosh scored 36 runs in 25 balls.
The format did not give India a chance to take advantage in the death overs, only Deepti Sharma could hold on, who scored 35 not out.
However, South Africa were cautious in reply and scored 56 runs in 10 overs, before Laura Wolvaardt was out for 29 runs in the 11th over.
After Sharma gave away just two runs in her two overs, Chloe Tryan and Anne Dirksen gave some hope with 24 and 21 not out respectively, but could not prevent India winning by 28 runs.