ICC Women World Cup 2022: Opening partnership deflated the whole team – Stefanie Taylor

West Indies women captain Stefanie Taylor admitted that Australia’s opening partnership deflated the whole team in the semifinal clash of the ICC Women World Cup at the Basin Reserve, Wellington on Wednesday. Taylor won the toss and elected to bowl first but Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes were at their absolute best.

Healy and Haynes added 216 runs for the opening stand to lay down the perfect foundation as both of the opening batters batted at the top of their game. Healy went on to score a majestic knock of 129 runs whereas Haynes added 85 runs for Australia. Thus, both of these batters played a key role in helping their team post 315 runs on the board.

Furthermore, West Indies dropped four catches, which led to their downfall. The Windies gave three reprieves to Rachael Haynes and one chance to Alyssa Healy. Chasing 306 in 45 overs was always going to be tough for Stefanie Taylor-led team and they were skittled out for only 148 runs in 37 overs.

Stefanie Taylor said in the post-match presentation, “When you look at it, it’s that partnership that deflated the whole team, that’s what the Australians did well. They absorbed the pressure and then they upped the ante, I find out that we couldn’t get over that and the amount of drop catches never helped us in the field. To chase that total you have to be positive, we needed someone from the top four to be positive and we just never had that. Deandra tried and I guess we needed a burst like against India or something like that to get that momentum going towards the end.”

She added, “When you have Rashada who is a stroke player and Deandra hits the ball hard and we find that both of them complement well each other and with me and Hayley next if both of us are, we can get the team over. It was really hard but we were actually looking to get something from the game, at least get to 200. For me, personally just a bit disappointed with my performance especially with the bat, and earlier I was carrying a niggle with my bowling and it was a bit hard for me personally.”

West Indies were totally dominated by Australia as Meg Lanning-led team came up with a collective effort. Australia ticked the right boxes and they would look to continue the good show in the final.

Australia will face either South Africa or England in the final of the tournament.