Australia enter final of ICC Women`s World Cup

Five-time champions Australia have entered the final of the ICC Women`s World Cup after thrashing Sri Lanka by nine wickets in their second Super Six match on Sunday.

Mumbai: Five-time champions Australia have entered the final of the ICC Women`s World Cup after thrashing Sri Lanka by nine wickets in their second Super Six match at the Brabourne Stadium here on Sunday.

In reply to Sri Lanka`s paltry 131, Australia chased down the target in just 22.2 overs. This was Australia`s fifth successive victory in the tournament. In contrast to the Sri Lankans, who took 206 deliveries to reach the three-digit mark, Australia scored at slightly faster pace than run-a-ball to get to 100 in only 96 balls. Openers Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes provided a solid platform as the duo stitched a 55-run partnership. Haynes scored an unbeaten 71 off 61 balls laced with nine fours and two sixes, while Lanning hit a 36-ball 37 studded with six fours and a six. Prasadini Weerakkody was the only Lankan bowler to have picked up a wicket, getting rid of Lanning. Earlier, put in to bat, Sri Lanka started on a disastrous note to be reeling at 41 for four before they eventually got all out for 131 in 45.2 overs. Aussie off-spinner Erin Osborne was the pick of the bowlers, scalping three for nine from her 10 overs. Incidentally this was Sri Lanka`s highest score against Australia, as they were earlier bundled out for 82 in 2000 and 57 in 2005. One-down batter, Deepika Rasangika (43) anchored the innings to an extent and shared a 49-run stand with wicketkeeper-batter Dilani Manodara (21) to steer the team past 100-run mark. PTI