Mumbai: Australia produced a match-winning bowling effort to stun defending champions England with a thrilling two-run victory in their first Super Six match of the ICC Women's World Cup at the Brabourne Stadium today.
Chasing Australia's 147, the English batters lost the plot as half of their side was back in the hut in just over 10 overs with mere 39 runs on board.
Despite Australia posting their lowest total against England in a World Cup game, they defended it successfully, thanks to the Aussie pace trio of Megan Schutt, Julie Hunter and Holly Ferling, who snapped up two wickets each within 11 overs to leave the holders reeling at 39 for 6.
Skipper Charlotte Edwards was unlucky to have been given leg before and was the first to depart, but soon the three-time champions lost a clutch of wickets -- keeper batter Sarah Taylor, opener Danielle Wyatt, all-rounder Arran Brindle, Heather Knight and Jennifer Gunn--- in just over half an hour's time.
The match was not devoid of any drama as Lydia Greenway (49) and Laura Marsh (22) steadied the innings with a 55-run stand for the seventh wicket off 155 balls.
But once Marsh got out leg before, England needed 52 off 81 balls with two wickets in hand.
Greenway faced 113 balls during her 144-minute stay and she was a run shy of her half century when she was caught by Sthalekar.
The English tail wagged a bit and the last wicket pair made the Aussies nervous as they scored 31 but in the end they fell short by two runs.
Earlier, opting to field, England bowlers put up an impressive show to dismiss arch-rivals Australia for a dismal 147 in 44.4 overs.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 08, 2013, 12:24