Key events
5th over: Australia 45-2 (Perry 1, Mooney 23)
A successful over for West Indies but Australia still press onwards. Just 81 more to win.
WICKET! Litchfield lbw Matthews 4 (Australia 43-2)
Yep, that is salmon trout*. It was a mess of gloves and pads so I can understand the decision, but once all the noise was dismissed, the ball had struck Litchfield on the back leg and it’s hitting middle-and-leg halfway up.
*Out
We have an LBW review against Litchfield from Hayley Matthews. Reverse-sweep, must admit looked okay to me on first viewing….
4th over: Australia 39-1 (Litchfield 1, Mooney 21)
The lively off-spin of Ramharack comes into the attack but it’s impossible to contain Beth Mooney when she’s in this mood. Two more fours, one lifted over cover, to be added to the total.
Maybe the reason I’ve never seen Beth Mooney get a low score, is because she always scores loads of runs? Could be the explanation.
3rd over: Australia 29-1 (Litchfield, Mooney 12)
That was also the end of the over. Aussies well in control and looking the goods even with that wicket.
WICKET! Voll b Henry 16 (Australia 29-1)
After two delightful boundaries, Henry deceives Voll with an excellent slower ball that sneaks under the bat. West Indies really needed that, and they’ll need nine more exactly where it came from.
2nd over: Australia 18-0 (Voll 8, Mooney 9)
Ooo, lovely from Mooney. Who is one of those players who I’ve only ever see score runs. See also, Paige Scholfield and Daniel Bell-Drummond. And here she ticks away pleasantly as she pulls and deflects Hayley Matthews off-breaks for a boundary and a three.
1st over: Australia 9-0 (Voll 7, Mooney 1)
A quiet over all except from the crispest of sixes you will ever see or hear from Georgia Voll. A length ball from Chinelle Henry, picked up over the legside and landing square on the boundary cushion. The Aussies are away.
Annnnnnnnnd….we’re back. Chinelle Henry with the new-ball. Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney in the middle. I reckon they’ll knock these off in 14.2 overs. Anyone backing the Windies in?
End of innings: West Indies 125-7 (Dottin 26*, Glasgow 15)
And that’s that. 10 runs comes off the final over and Sutherland picks up her first wicket on the final ball as Glasgow edges behind.
Dottin has gained the Windies some respectability to drag them up above 120, but you’d expect Australia to chase this very comfortably.
I’m going to grab a tea. Catch you back here in ten.
19th over: West Indies 115-6 (Dottin 18, Glasgow 14)
And another good’un for the Windies as 11 runs come from the penultimate over. It’s such a shame Dottin wasn’t able to come in earlier as she picked up Molineux over square leg for four.
Can they finish off this sprint finish?
18th over: West Indies 104-6 (Dottin 11, Glasgow 10)
That’s better for the Windies. 13 runs off the eighteenth as Dottin and Glasgow share a boundary each. The left-handed Glasgow absolutely nailing a drive wide of long-off for four.
17th over: West Indies 91-6 (Dottin 6, Glasgow 4)
Dottin and Glasgow knock Ash Gardner’s final over around to score seven. In truth, it’s an approach that we could have done with seeing ten overs ago. But we’re here now. Three overs left. Can the Windies get to…120?
16th over: West Indies 84-6 (Dottin 1, Glasgow 2)
Dottin gets off the mark from her third delivery with a scampered single. She has four overs to try and make an impact here.
WICKET! Campbelle c Perry b Wareham 22 (West Indies 83-6)
Skips down the track and nails a drive at mid-off. That’s the end of Campbelle.
And well, here does come Dottin. She had scary moment before the match where she had to be carried off the pitch by her teammates. But she is now fit enough to come in which is good news for everyone.
15th over: West Indies 79-5 (Campbelle 18, Glasgow 2)
Jannillea Glasgow is the new batter and she gets off the mark with a couple of singles. Five overs to go at The Oval. Reminder to email in with your thoughts whatever they may be.
WICKET! Henry c Sutherland b Molineux 10 (West Indies 74-5)
It’s only getting worse…
This time Henry hauls out to long-on for a simple catch.
14th over: West Indies 73-4 (Cambelle 14, Henry 10)
A boundary! Annabel Sutherland is back into the attack and Henry carves her for four behind point. Lovely shot and the extra pace working for the Windies.
Just three more runs scored from that point however. It’s a tough innings for the West Indies with no signs of it getting better.
A reminder, Deandra Dottin appeared to suffer an illness or injury following the anthems and was carried off by her teammates. It does not appear, currently, that she will take part in the game.
13th over: West Indies 66-4 (Campbelle 13, Henry 4)
Just three more runs added. Australia went for a review of an LBW against Campbelle but an inside edge saves her.
12th over: West Indies 63-4 (Campbelle 12, Henry 2)
Three runs scored from Wareham’s over. A near run-out to finish the over but Campbelle safely home.
I’m not sure I like this new super quick third umpire. It’s neither fast enough for an immediate decision, nor slow enough for suspension to build.
11th over: West Indies 59-4 (Campbelle 10, Henry 0)
A wonderful over from Ash Gardner. Two wickets taken and just one run conceded. She has figures of 2-0-3-2 so far.
Chinelle Henry comes to the crease. She can hit a really long ball. And with it looking like Dottin won’t take part in this game, she is potentially Windies last hope of getting to a competitive total.
WICKET! Claxton c Molineux b Gardner (West Indies 59-4)
Claxton skips down the track and connects cleanly, but straight to Sophie Molineux at cover. That’s three wickets for four runs now.
WICKET! Taylor c Garth b Gardner 0 (West Indies 59-3)
It’s unravelling now. Stafanie Taylor gets a leading edge and it’s simply caught at short-midwicket by Kim Garth.
Deandra Dottin has not appeared, with Jahzara Claxton coming to the crease instead.
10th over: West Indies 58-2 (Campelle 9, Taylor 0)
Halfway and it ain’t reading pretty for the Windies.
WICKET! Joseph c Gardner b Molineux 16 (West Indies 55-2)
And that’s your lot. Joseph swings, but can only find the hands of Ash Gardner on the boundary. A tough innings for Joseph who finishes with 16 off 22.
9th over: West Indies 55-1 (Campbelle 8, Joseph 16)
A really lovely start from Campbelle, who sweeps and then back foot punches two boundaries to start her innings.
WICKET! Matthews b Wareham 30 (West Indies 47-1)
That is the big one. Matthews goes to paddle sweep Georgia Wareham’s first ball but gets nothing apart from fresh air. Aussies have their first wicket and Shermaine Campbell comes to the crease.
8th over: West Indies 47-0 (Matthews 30, Joseph 16)
Take that, Mel Jones. Joseph launches one 85m and into the stands. The Windies coach Shane Deitz had gone out after the powerplay and given some technical advice. And it has worked! She follows up her six with a two over mid-off as well. I said it to begin with and will say it again. Long live Qiana Joseph.
“Tactical drop?” Asks Mel Jones.
Now, now….
7th over: West Indies 37-0 (Matthews 29, Joseph 7)
Here she is! Qiana Joseph nails one hard and flat only for Georgia Voll to drop it on the fence! All of that for one run.
Ash Gardner is on by the way. And she concedes only two runs in total from the over.
Should add Lucy Hamilton put down a fiendishly difficult chance the last ball of that over as well, diving at short fine leg. “Four runs saved,” says Carlos Brathwaite. And I’m inclined to agree.
6th over: West Indies 35-0 (Matthews 28, Joseph 6)
It’s a tale of two ends here. Matthews is cruising on 28 off 20. Joseph is really struggling on 6 off 16. Windies coach throws his back in frustration following Joseph’s latest dot faced. When she’s on she can hit the ball harder than anyone in the women’s game. But she is currently not on.
Powerplay done.
5th over: West Indies: 28-0 (Matthews 22, Joseph 5)
And just the one run from the fifth over. Qiana Joseph is swinging for the hills but no contact is being made. She’s struggling out there. Currently on 5 off 13.
4th over: West Indies: 27-0 (Matthews 21, Joseph 5)
Just the two runs off the fourth over as Australia turn the screw. Good stuff from Kim Garth.
We’re still awaiting an update on Deandra Dottin.
3rd over: West Indies 25-0 (Matthews 20, Joseph 4)
Delicious from Matthews who carves a ball behind point for four. Solid start from the Windies here. I think you just need to get yourself to 160 and then ask for help from whomever you take your solace. Easier said than done, but they’re on the right track so far.
We’ve heard from Andy in FNQ (that’s Far North Queensland for those who don’t know) and he makes a very good point about the Australian team…or more to the point, the player who is not in the Australian team.
“Saw King was left out for Australia. How crazy is it that they can’t fit a player like that in? She’d be first bowler picked in any other team in the world I reckon. She absolutely owned England in the last Ashes tour, no hint of a drop in form and now she can’t get a game. The standard of this team is just ridiculous.”
Andy’s off to bed in 30 minutes as he’s got to go to work in the morning. If you’d like to wish Andy goodnight drop me an email here and I’ll pass it on.
2nd over: West Indies 15-0 (Matthews 11, Joseph 3)
Edged between slip and short third for four by Matthews. Bit of swing on offer for Kim Garth though so Aussie won’t mind too much.
Joseph nabs a couple off the last ball as well.
1st over: West Indies 8-0 (Matthews 6, Joseph 1)
Crunched for four first ball from Matthews. Lucy Hamilton has the new-ball for Australia, then a series of singles and one wide to take the score to eight.
Joseph has one off three balls which is 17 fewer than I was hoping for from her.
Oh blimey, some worrying news to start. Deandra Dottin has been carried off the ground following the anthems by her team mates and does not seem in a good way. The match will begin, but we’ll keep you updated as to what’s going on as currently unclear.
Rally round the West Indies is one of the great anthems. Written by the legendary David Rudder, he performed it at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Trinidad and it’s one of my favourite videos. I’ll see if I can dig it out on YouTube.
If you want to read more about the anthem and the man – Ali Martin spoke to him in 2020.
A man named Rodney Clarke is belting out the anthems. He has a lovely voice. I like Rodney.
If you’re wondering why a World Cup semi-final is on at 2.30pm on a weekday? Well, it’s to do with India. Had they qualified, they would have played in this fixture regardless, which was scheduled at 2.30pm rather than 6.30pm to better suit an Indian TV audience. Thoughts on a postcard please.
What will par be here at The Oval? Commentators are saying potentially as high as 180.
Hayley Matthews, who a couple of years ago had a claim of being the best player in the world is due a score, while her opening partner Qiana Joseph is one of my favourite cricketers to watch. She has one shot. And she plays it well. Buckle up for some good viewing.
West Indies XI
Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbell (+), Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Jahzara Claxton, Chinelle Henry, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack
Unchanged West Indies team as well.
Australia XI
Australia: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Lucy Hamilton, Kim Garth
Unchanged from the Aussies. Other option would have been to bring the legspinner Alana King back in, but they’ve stuck with Phoebe Litchfield who came back in in the previous match.
“A good call from Sophie Molineux,” says former England bowler Tash Farrant on the broadcast. Runs flow at The Oval and Surrey, when they do win the toss, generally look to chase as well.
Aussies are unchanged from their last group stage game, meanwhile Hayley Matthews says she would have had a bowl as well had they won the toss.
“One of the best wickets in England,” says Matthews. So we’re expecting some runs.
Australia win the toss and bowl
The West Indies captain, Hayley Matthews, calls tails, it’s a head and Australia will have a bowl.
Rightio, news from the middle is incoming. The captains and officials are gathering in the middle. I’ll let you know what’s happening, as soon as I know.
And we have yet more content for your eyes with this review by Raf of the competition so far.
It’s been incredible. We set out on a mission to break women’s cricket into the mainstream and over the course of the last three weeks we’ve seen record-breaking crowds. I feel like we’ve definitely delivered.”
Want to get in touch with any thoughts, feelings, suspicions or opinions? Doesn’t have to even be about the match, really.
Email me here to get involved.
Want to read a preview of the semi-final by Raf Nicholson? Go on then. She caught up with Windies skipper Hayley Matthews ahead of the crunch semi-final.
“There is an added fire to us when people think we can’t get the job done.”
A tale of two journeys for each of the teams to this point. The West Indies were three from three, before suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of England and then a shock loss to Ireland – for whom it was their first ever World Cup victory at the 21st time of asking.
Meanwhile, Australia? Well…the margins of victory read: 65 runs, nine wickets, 98 runs, 113 runs and six wickets. Their match against India threatened briefly to be close, but then there was an Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner masterclass.
Preamble
Welcome one, welcome all to another OBO liveblog and far more importantly the first semi-final of the T20 Women’s World Cup.
It’s Australia vs West Indies. And there’s no two ways about it, the robots from Down Under are heavy, heavy favourites. They’ve demolished everything in their path so far, but the Windies are known for springing a surprise or two so stay tuned.
Toss and team news at 2.00pm BST!