England began their defence of the women’s World Twenty20 with a rollercoaster thriller against Australia in St Kitts that ended in defeat on a boundary countback, after the match and the “super over” finished as a tie.
Chasing 104, Australia needed eight off the last over with a wicket in hand and looked on track when a no-ball from Charlotte Edwards was hit for four. But, with the scores level and three balls remaining, Rene Farrell was run out by Beth Morgan.
The super over finished with the teams both scoring six for two, but Jess Cameron’s six, hit off Holly Colvin, the England left-arm spinner, in the original run chase won the day for Australia as it was the only shot to clear the ropes in the contest.
England’s next two matches, against West Indies and South Africa, look easier on paper, but they must beware Deandra Dottin, the 18-year-old middle-order batsman, who made the fastest-ever Twenty20 century as West Indies beat South Africa by 17 runs. Dottin, who is a cousin of Ottis Gibson, the head coach of the West Indies men’s team, hit nine sixes in her 112 and reached her hundred in only 38 balls to help her side to 175 for five.
In the men’s World Twenty20, Australia suffered a scare in Barbados when batting against Bangladesh, but rallied to claim their place in the Super Eights. Mike Hussey rescued Australia from 65 for six, making 47 in 29 balls and steering his side to 141 for seven.
Bangladesh had to reach the target in 14.4 overs to knock Australia out on net run-rate, but lost four wickets in the first four overs and were dismissed for 114. Dirk Nannes took four for 18, with Hussey claiming three catches.
In the day’s other match, South Africa confirmed their place in the Super Eights with a comfortable 59-run victory over Afghanistan. The qualifiers did well to contain the South Africa batsman to a total of 139, but struggled against the pace of their bowlers and were 14 for six before being dismissed for 80 after 16 overs.
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