A towering century of Rachael Haynes helped Australia secure a tense 12-point win over defending champions England in their World Cup opener in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Key points:
- Australia posted a 3-310 aggregate from their 50 overs
- Rachael Haynes made 130 and Meg Lanning scored 86
- Nat Sciver was England’s top scorer with an unbeaten 109
On an emotional day for Australian cricket following the death of Shane Warne, Haynes’ 130 and captain Meg Lanning’s 86 took Australia to a 3-310 aggregate, leaving rivals Ashes with the daunting prospect of a an ODI world record pursuit to win.
Nat Sciver had an unbeaten 109, before England fell to 8-298 from their 50 overs.
Australian player Alana King took it 2-10 in her opening three overs to tip the game in Australia’s favour.
Jess Jonassen then produced the magic in the final, taking a one-handed catch to pull Katherine Brunt (25) out of her own bowling alley to drive Australia home.
Speaking at the draw, Lanning said Warne’s overnight death a day after Rod Marsh’s death was deeply felt by the Australian squad.
“Losing Rod (Marsh) and Shane over the past two days has been very sad…they’re two game icons that have had a huge impact,” Lanning said.
Australia and England shared a somber moment before playing at Seddon Park, with both teams observing a minute’s silence.
Alyssa Healy made the first run for Australia but left after going 28 at half-wicket.
Haynes and Lanning spat for the next hour under pressure from England, with the run rate hovering below four for more.
The Australian duo, however, succeeded in their work halfway through, taking their score to two half-centuries in the 31st.
They powered up, the limits flowing until Lanning was fired in the 43rd after a mighty 196-point stand.
Haynes allowed herself a smile for her first World Cup century, swinging free until she finally found a defender with just seven balls left innings.
Beth Mooney (27 not eliminated) and Ellyse Perry (14 not eliminated) pushed Australia through the symbolic 300 point barrier.
England made a disastrous start to their chase, losing Lauren Winfield-Hill for a first duck when she drove Megan Schutt’s delivery to Annabel Sutherland, who took a magnificent diving catch.
England should have been 2-6 when Tammy Beaumont slipped past Darcie Brown in Lanning, only for the skipper to drop a regulation hold.
Beaumont didn’t look back, as she roared 50 from 54 as England kept pace in pursuit of the winning goal.
Tahlia McGrath made the breakthrough, tempting Heather Knight (40) into an upbeat drive that went straight for cover, where Lanning made amends.
From then on England were down 4-84, with two wickets each going to tournament debutants McGrath and King.
Beaumont’s defeat (74 out of 82) marked a turning point in the match. The dangerous fly-half was puzzled by Healy after being beaten mid-air by King, who then hit his armband commemorating his idol Warne.
The irrepressible King was then hit in the shin by a shot from Sophia Dunkley, only to get up and throw her the next ball.
At the time, England looked down at 6-232, only for Sciver to produce heroics late in the set.
Sciver’s innings came from 85 balls, but she ran out of partners as Australia took the win.
AAP/ABC
