India batting first in second semi-final
New Zealand captain Maia Lewis has won the toss and put India into bat in the second semi-final of the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom today. India are fielding an unchanged eleven for the seventh time in this World Cup, while New Zealand have one change from the side that beat England last Friday. Rebecca Steele returns from injury with Anna Corbin making way.
Unfortunately, rain looks like playing a role in today’s match, with a 20 minute rain delay after just one over. After three overs, India are 10/1, Jaya Sharma having being dismissed without scoring.
At the first drinks break, India are 33/1 after 12 overs (Chopra 9, Jain 11). At the second drinks break, India are 84/2 after 29 overs (Chopra 36, Raj 19). Anju Jain made 11.
Live scorecard coverage of this match on CricInfo, Ananova and BBC Online. There’s also ball-by-ball text descriptions on IRC.
New Zealand chasing 205
India have set New Zealand the task of scoring 205 if they are to join Australia in Sunday’s final of the Women’s Cricket World Cup.After being sent into bat by New Zealand captain Maia Lewis, India completed their fifty overs in today’s second semi-final at Potchefstroom with a total of 204 for 6. Indian captain Mithali Raj top scored with 91 not out from 104 deliveries. Anjum Chopra made 44, and Raj was well assisted in the slog overs by Hemlata Kala (18 from 19) and Jhulan Goswami (11* from 7). India scored 19 runs off the last two overs and 61 in the last ten to take their total past 200.
Best of the New Zealand bowlers was Rachel Pullar with 4/39 from ten overs. The White Ferns will have a tough assignment following the lunch break against collectively the best bowling attack of this World Cup.
New Zealand struggling
India have taken a stranglehold on the Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final at Potchefstroom today.Chasing India’s total of 204 for 6, New Zealand were in deep trouble at 53 for 4 after eighteen overs. Aimee Mason was run out before the White Ferns had opened their account. Rebecca Rolls was bowled by Amita Sharma for 8, and Nooshin Al Khadeer dismissed both Maia Lewis (13) and Haidee Tiffen (11) in her first over.
The winners of today’s semi-final will meet Australia at Supersport Park, Centurion, on Sunday.
New Zealand fighting back
The New Zealand White Ferns are fighting back in a bid to avoid defeat in the second semi-final of the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom.Following India’s innings of 204 for 6, New Zealand had collapsed to 39 for 4 before a 61-run partnership between Maria Fahey and Sara McGlashan put the Kiwis back into the game. McGlashan was out for 23, when she was stumped by Anju Jain to become Neetu David’s 18th wicket of the series.
At the second drinks break, New Zealand was 110 for 5 after 32 overs, needing 95 for victory at a required run-rate of 5.28. Fahey was 46 and Helen Watson 7.
Today’s winners will meet Australia in the World Cup Final at Supersport Park, Centurion on Sunday.
It’s an Australia v India final!
India will take part in its first Women’s Cricket World Cup final on Sunday. They qualified by defeating New Zealand by 40 runs in the semi-final at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom today.As with the men’s World Cup in South Africa two years ago, the final of the 2005 women’s event will be between India and Australia. It will be the first final of a Women’s World Cup without New Zealand since 1988.
India completed their victory today by dismissing New Zealand for 164 in 43.3 overs after scoring 204 for 6 in their fifty. New Zealand were reeling at 39 for 4 before Maria Fahey and Sara McGlashan staged a recovery, sharing a fifth-wicket partnership of 61. Once McGlashan (23) and Helen Watson (14) departed, the New Zealand tail caved in, leaving Fahey stranded on 73 not out.
Nooshin Al Khader took 3/39 from ten overs for India, while Amita Sharma claimed 3/24 from nine. Neetu David’s 2/28 brings her 2005 World Cup tally to 19 wickets, and Jhulan Goswami took 1/18. Wicketkeeper Anju Jain claimed three stumpings to remove Lewis, McGlashan and Milliken.
Earlier in the day, Indian captain Mithali Raj set up a solid total with an impressive 91 not out from 104 deliveries, including nine fours. She left the field with an injury during the New Zealand innings and it’s not known at this stage whether this will put her in doubt for Sunday’s final.
Brief scores: India 204/6 in 50 overs (M Raj 91*, A Chopra 44; R Pullar 4-39) defeated New Zealand 164 all out in 43.3 overs (M Fahey 73, S McGlashan 23; A Sharma 3-24, N Al Khader 3-39, N David 2-28) by 40 runs.
(Note: This article was originally written for the Cricketwoman website in 2005. It may contain links to Cricketarchive which have long since ceased to exist. Cricketwoman was a partner website of Cricketarchive at the time of the 2005 Womens World Cup. – RE, 2017-07-21)