India beats Australia by three wickets in third-fourth position play-off

India recorded its second successive victory over Australia when it defeated the dethroned world champions by three wickets in the third-fourth play-off at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 at Bankstown Oval on Saturday. 

In a match reduced to 46-over-a-side, due to rain, Australia was all out for 142 in 44.4 overs. India reached the victory target with 13 balls and three wickets to spare. 

Batting first after winning the toss, Australia was in trouble at 27-2 when heavy rain came down and stopped play. When the match resumed, the umpires decided to reduce the match to 46 overs per side but Australia plunged into deeper trouble when play started as it slipped to 63-5 in 27 overs. 


At that stage, captain Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar rescued their side with a gutsy 60-run partnership that allowed the home team to reach 144 all out in 44.4 overs. Rolton finished as the top scorer with a fine 52 that came off 93 balls and included a six and a four while Sthalekar contributed 30 from 32 balls with two fours.


For India, wickets were evenly shared between Jhulan Goswami (2-21), Priyanka Roy (2-21), Rumeli Dhar (2-24) and Gouher Sultana (2-27).

India, in its target chase, put together small but useful partnerships to achieve the target in 43.5 overs. Sulakshana Naik finished as the top scorer with 28 while Rumeli Dhar chipped in with a priceless 24 not out. 

In the fifth-sixth play-off, the West Indies avenged for its four-wicket defeat last Saturday when it defeated Pakistan by three wickets in the fifth-sixth play-off. By virtue of this win, the West Indies retained its fifth-placed ranking while Pakistan jumps from eighth to sixth spot. 

The star of the match was West Indies’ Shanel Daley who claimed her career-best 4-29 to dismiss Pakistan for 131 all out in 46.3 overs. She then returned to contribute 24 with the bat as the West Indies achieved victory with 3.3 overs to spare.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 5:54:49 AM

India captures third place after thrilling victory

India sealed third-place at the ICC Women’s World Cup after a tremendous three-wicket victory over Australia.

In a repeat of the 2005 Final, Australia stumbled its way to 144 all out, in a rain affected innings, with only Karen Rolton (52) and Lisa Sthalekar (30) making any score of note.

India’s bowling display was extremely impressive from the first over, when Jhulan Goswami bowled Leah Poulton, with the wickets shared around the Indian attack.

Sthalekar and Erin Osborne then combined to put India in all kinds of trouble at 104-7, but a 41-run partnership between Rumeli Dhar (24 not out) and Jhulan Goswami (18 not out) helped the side to a brilliant victory.

This was India’s second consecutive victory over Australia, having also beaten them in the Super Six stages.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 3:56:01 AM

India pull off shock of the tournament as hosts crash to another defeat

India pulled off a stunning 16-run victory over Australia to keep its dream of a first ICC Women’s World Cup title alive thanks to a world-class innings from Anjum Chopra.

But the defeat leaves Karen Rolton’s side in all kinds of trouble, having already lost to New Zealand at this event, and it now knows it must win its next two Super Six matches to have any chance of making the final.

A solid opening partnership of 69 between Anagha Deshpande (45) and Anjum Chopra (76) helped establish a solid platform for India to build an impressive total of 234-5.

Mithali Raj (44) continued her excellent form at this event, scoring at almost a run-a-ball, while Amita Sharma smashed 31 not out off 22 balls and Harmanpreet Kaur scored 19 not out off eight balls, including one six.

Lisa Sthalekar took three wickets with her spin bowling, although she was slightly expensive as she conceded 3-52.

In reply, Jhulan Goswami got the first wicket of Shelley Nitschke (19) early on, before Rolton (8) and Sthalekar (0) followed quickly after to leave Australia on 53-3.

Alex Blackwell (54) and Jodie Fields (43) then put on an excellent stand for the fourth wicket, but as the hosts fell behind the run-rate, wickets quickly fell.

Some brave late-order hitting from Lauren Ebsary and Rene Farrell got Australia close to its target, but in the end it fell 16 runs short.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:01:48 AM

India survives scare to move into Super Six stages

India survived a scare against Sri Lanka before a completing a 35-run win that guarantees it a place in the Super Six stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Vice-captain Amita Sharma led a much improved bowling performance after a poor batting display had left India in all kinds of trouble.

Mithali Raj (75 not out) was again the key player for India, one of only three Indian players to register double figures, as it struggled to reach 137-7 off 50 overs.


But it would have been relieved to get to that total having at one stage been 35-4 and then 78-7, as some disciplined and consistent bowling restricted one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Chamari Polgampola took 2-17, Udeshika Prabodani recorded figures of 2-20 and Suwini de Alwis achieved 2-34 in a fine all-round bowling display.

A slow but steady first-wicket stand of 37 between Dedunu de Silva (21) and Chamari Polgampola (12) provided a good platform for Sri Lanka to chase its target, but once again a poor batting effort was to prove costly.

Only Eshani Lokusooriya (20) provided any kind of resistance in a total of 102 all out, as Amita Sharma (3-19), Rumeli Dhar (2-10) and Gouher Sultana (2-16) led a great bowling performance. 

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News -Thursday, March 12, 2009 2:50:06 AM

India and England look to maintain unbeaten run

India and England feature in the showcase match of Tuesday’s action at the ICC Women’s World Cup when they face-off at North Sydney Oval.

A match-winning innings from Anjum Chopra provided India with victory the last time these two sides met at a World Cup, back in 2005, and she is again expected to be a key player today.

England, who defeated Sri Lanka on Saturday by 100 runs, despite a scrappy performance, will be hopeful of continuing its winning run against India having defeated it 4-0 last year.

In Group A, Australia will be hoping to get its campaign back on track when it faces South Africa at Newcastle.

Karen Rolton’s side, who suffered a defeat to New Zealand on Sunday in a rain-affected match, will be desperate to record its first win of the tournament, while Sunette Loubser will be asking for a better batting performance from her South African side after being bowled out for just 116 against the West Indies on Sunday.

In the other match of the day, the two unbeaten sides in Group A, New Zealand and West Indies, play at Bankstown.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Tuesday, March 10, 2009 6:53:03 PM

Rumeli inspires impressive Indian victory

A brilliant display from India’s fast bowlers helped Jhulan Goswami’s side record a comfortable ten-wicket victory over Pakistan on the opening day of the ICC Women’s World Cup.

25-year-old Rumeli Dhar starred with the ball, taking 3-7, as Pakistan crashed to a disappointing 57 all out as it failed to cope with the pressure of playing on women’s cricket’s biggest stage.

And India comfortably reached its target with 40 overs to spare, sending confidence in the camp soaring ahead of Tuesday’s huge clash with England.

India, after winning the toss, quickly grabbed the ascendancy as Jhulan Goswami and Rumeli Dhar bowled an excellent opening spell, showing great consistency with both line and length.

Bismah Maroof fell to an excellent diving catch by Gouher Sultana off the bowling of Rumeli Dhar, before a direct hit from Amita Sharma accounted for Nain Abidi.

Skipper Urooj Mumtaz Khan was then dismissed by her opposite number, Jhulan Goswami, before Sajida Shah and Almas Akram were dismissed off consecutive balls leaving it struggling on 23-5.

Worse was to follow, as it then slumped to 25-7, before Sana Mir’s disciplined innings of 17, which was supported by Ismavia Iqbal, restored some credibility to the score line after an eight-wicket partnership of 30.

But the final three Pakistan wickets crumbled for just two runs, as leg-break bowler Priyanka Roy cleaned up the tail with 2-13.

In reply, India showed its class with the bat, as openers Anagha Deshpande (26 not out) and Anjum Chopra (17 not out) placed and timed the ball with great skill.

Although Pakistan bowled with great determination it never really threatened the opening pair and India secured an easy victory before there was even time for lunch.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:02:20 AM

India and New Zealand victorious on day two of ICC Women's World Cup 2009 warm-up matches

Opener Anjum Chopra and left-arm spinner Sravanthi Krishnamurthy bowled India to a narrow 23-run victory over South Africa in an ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 warm-up match at Raby 1 on Tuesday.

Chopra, appearing in her fourth World Cup, stroked a fine 53 to help India to a modest 167 all out in 45.3 overs but Krishnamurthy returned magical figures of 10-2-28-5 to bowl South Africa out for 144 with 16 balls to spare.

Chopra, who hit four fours in a 107-ball knock, added 73 runs for the second wicket with former captain Mithali Raj who contributed 29. With MD Thirushkamini, Chopra put on 33 runs for the third wicket but once the stand was broken with the score on108, the rest of the Indian batting collapsed like a house of cards as it was dismissed for 167 runs with over four overs to spare.

For South Africa, 20-year-old fast bowler Shabnim Ismail stole the bowling honours when she took 4-35 while 15-year-old leg-spinner Dane van Niekrek bagged 2-32.

South Africa, in its target chase, started confidently when it reached 57 without loss in 17 overs. But after Priyanka Roy broke the first wicket stand between Trisha Chetty (35) and Yolandi van der Westhuizen (28) by dismissing the former, South Africa’s innings fell apart as it failed to counter the crafty spin bowling of the 22-year-old Krishnamurthy.

Krishnamurthy ran through the opponent’s middle-order and only Mignon du Preez’s breezy 42, with four fours, helped South Africa narrow the margin of defeat to 23 runs.

India captain Jhulan Goswami was happy with her team making a winning start to the tour. “It was a close match and an important win and I’m happy that we’ve started well. We played pretty good cricket.

“I’m very happy with how Anjum batted today. She has a senior role and took responsibility and the same with a lot of our young spinners. They showed leadership and used the wicket superbly, so I’m happy with how they bowled today.”

Elsewhere, former champion New Zealand gave Pakistan a cricket lesson when it defeated the eighth-ranked team by a convincing margin of 126 runs.

Batting first, New Zealand rattled 303-9 with opener Suzie Bates top scoring with a swashbuckling 80 that came off just 68 balls and included 10 fours. Sara McGlashan also took advantage of some friendly bowling from the Pakistani girls to hit six fours and a six in a 54-ball 63.

In turn, Pakistan opted for batting practice and finished at 177-8 with Bishmah Maroof scoring 39 and Naila Nazir following up her 2-61 with a watchful 38.

At Old Kings, New South Wales defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets. Sri Lanka, batting first, scored 114 in 38.4 overs, which the home side achieved with more than 13 overs and nine wickets to spare.

All the eight participating teams in the tournament will be in action on Wednesday, which is the last day of the warm-up matches, before the main round begins on Saturday 7 March. On the opening day of the tournament, Pakistan will take on India at Bowral and England will meet Sri Lanka at Canberra.

Scores in brief:

At Raby 1: India 167 in 45.3 overs (Anjum Chopra 53, Mithali Raj 29; Shabnim Ismail 4-35, Dane van Niekerk 2-32)

South Africa 144 in 47.2 overs (Mignon du Preez 42, Trisha Chetty 35, Yolandi van der Westhuizen 28; Sravanthi Krishnamurthy 5-28, Priyanka Roy 3-35)

India won by 23 runs

At Manly: New Zealand 303-9 in 50 overs (Suzie Bates 80, Sara McGlashan 63, Haidee Tiffen 33, Nicola Browne 29, Aimee Mason 25, Sophie Devine 23 not out; Naila Nazir 2-61)

Pakistan 177-8 in 50 overs (Bismah Maroof 39, Naila Nazir 38, Sana Mir 34; Sarah Tsukigawa 3-23)

New Zealand won by 126 runs

At Old Kings: Sri Lanka 114 in 38.4 overs (Suwini de Alwis30; Sarah Aley 4-26)

NSW 115-1 in 36.2 overs (S.Hinton 41 not out, S.Coyte 35, K.Blackwell 31 not out)

NSW won by nine wickets

Warm-up fixtures for Wednesday 4 March:

Australia v Sri Lanka, Manly

India v New Zealand, Old Kings

England v West Indies, Raby 1

South Africa v Pakistan, Village Green 

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Tuesday, March 03, 2009 5:21:31 PM

India determined to add ICC Women's World Cup to its collection

Goswami believes the event will be the toughest yet as every side will arrive in Sydney well 

Captain says she will not hesitate to contact Mahendra Singh Dhoni if guidance required 

Delighted that ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast matches from North Sydney Oval 

India aims to do one better this time as the country excitedly looks forward to next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 which will be the first to be played under the auspices of the ICC since its merger with the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) in 2005. 

India was a losing finalist to Australia in the previous event in South Africa in 2005 while in 1997 in India, it again lost to Australia by 19 runs in a rain-reduced 32-over-a-side semi-final. In between, when the tournament was staged in New Zealand in 2000, India failed to qualify for the final by just two points. 

But India captain Jhulan Goswami believes her side has prepared better than ever before for the ninth World Cup which will also be participated by holders Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Sydney and Canberra from 7 to 22 March. 

“We had a strenuous training camp in Bangalore in January before all the players went to represent their states and institutions in the two-day knock-out tournament in Baroda from 1 to 15 February. Our final training camp will start in Mumbai from 20 February,” said Goswami who was ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2007. 

“Prior to our preparations at home, we had tough tours to England and Australia last year and though both the tours ended in disappointment, they gave us an excellent opportunity to strengthen our strong areas and fix our weak links. 

“In terms of World Cup preparations, both series provided us with the chance to evaluate where we stood with ample time to find a way to lift our standard. Such series on the eve of the World Cup might not have been productive as they could have shattered our confidence or left us with no time to rectify the problems. 

“By playing three months prior to the main event, we have given ourselves a very good chance to put ourselves back in track. Needless to say it was also a good wake-up call for us,” she said. 

England defeated India 4-0 in a five-match series (the last ODI was abandoned due to rain) in September while in November Australia made a clean sweep of the five-match series to leave India with five wins and nine defeats in 2008. 

Goswami, who is ranked third in the Reliance Mobile ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings for bowlers, said her side was a mixture of youth and experience and was not short of any motivation or confidence. “We have players like Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj who will be playing in their fourth and third World Cups respectively. 

“They have loads of experience which will guide the youngsters, including the three new players who could make be making their ODIs debuts in Australia, and help them learn how to handle the World Cup pressure. 

“The players are charged up and anxiously waiting for the event to begin as it is the biggest achievement for any sportsperson to represent his or her country in a World Cup. This event is more special and a prized one because it is being staged by the premier body which automatically increases its importance and profile. 

“The team is also wary of the fact that India has already won every single cricket tournament except the Women’s World Cup and by winning the Australia tournament, we could complete the trophies cabinet in the BCCI headquarters,” Goswami said. 

India won the ICC Cricket World Cup in England in 1983, shared the ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in 2002, claimed the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup honours in 2000 and 2008 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side lifted the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007. 

Goswami has played 93 ODIs and if India qualifies for the final, her 100th ODI will be the final to be played on 22 March at the North Sydney Oval. “Playing 100 ODIs will be a perfect icing on the cake after I won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2007 and became India captain in last October. 

“But I would like to focus on the tournament as winning the World Cup will bring huge honour to the country while completing century of ODIs will only be a personal landmark. 

“This World Cup will be the toughest yet as every team will come very well prepared. I think every team will arrive in Australia hoping it has a chance to win, also because the World Cup tends to bring the best out of the players and the teams. 

“We will respect every team and try to play consistently well. We have to avoid being complacent and stay focused and keep working hard.” 

India has won the Women’s Asia Cup four times and has an unbeaten record against Sri Lanka and Pakistan who are both in Pool A with India and England. But Goswami said she would avoid making sweeping statements against the Asian rivals. 

“I agree we enjoy a good record against Pakistan and Sri Lanka which are relatively young at this stage but we must not forget that both the teams will be playing in the World Cup which is a completely different tournament. And history shows what can happen in World Cups. 

“Nevertheless, I would like to see my side go into the Super Six stage with maximum carry-over points and then continue that winning habit in the Super Six stage. But all this demands commitment and hard work which my talented side is ready to put in.” 

Goswami said she was happy to know her team was being considered as one of the favourites alongside holders Australia, England and New Zealand. “It is pleasing to know that we are being taken seriously by the pundits. This also means that the experts and the opponents are wary of our capability. 

“I believe we have a good chance, better than before to win the trophy but for that we will have need to consistently well play and not only play well but to try to raise standard with every match.” 

Goswami said she would not hesitate to pick up the phone to call India men’s team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who will be captaining his side against New Zealand in New Zealand. “If I need any guidance and advice, I will not hesitate to call Dhoni and I am sure he would reciprocate. 

“I will not only get a priceless suggestion from Dhoni but his pep-talk with the players can do magic and further lift the spirits of the players. 

“While saying this, I am glad that I have players like Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj on whom I can rely for suggestions and advice.” 

Goswami was also excited by the news that ICC’s broadcast partner ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast all seven matches that will take place at North Sydney Oval, including the final. This will ensure that the event will be the most widely viewed to date, with the coverage to be aired in more than 100 countries. 

“This is great news because we missed television coverage in South Africa in 2005. No television coverage meant very few knew in India that we had reached the final. 

“Besides, live coverage of the tournament will increase the profile of the tournament, will also help women’s cricket go to every corner of the country and promote the sport.” 

India, which opens its World Cup campaign against traditional rivals Pakistan on 7 March at Bradman Oval, plays England at the North Sydney Oval on Tuesday 10 March in a first round match. If all goes according to the seeding, India’s Super Six stage matches at the NSO will be against Australia on Saturday 14 March and against New Zealand on Tuesday 17 March. 

In the lead-up to the World Cup, India has two warm up matches – against South Africa on Tuesday 3 March at Raby 1 and against on New Zealand the following day at Old Kings. 

India squad – Jhulan Goswami (captain), Amita Sharma (vice-captain), Anagha Deshpande, Anjum Chopra, Gouher Sultana, Harpreet Kaur, MD Thirushkamini, Mithali Raj, Poonam Raut, Priyanka Roy, Reema Malhotra, Rumeli Dhar, Snehal Pradhan, Sravanthi Krishnamurthy, Sulakshana Naik.

ICC Media Release