Random Women's Cricket Thread

[andy]

Unfortunately rain starting to dominate this competition now

[andy]

England batting first against India...97-1 Amy Jones 55*....dunkley somehow still keeps her place in the side

[andy]

252-4 in the 46th....knight scored a hundred! Finally England turn up with the bat

[Durhamfootman]

NZ can't catch a break in this comp, can they

[bigfluffylemon]

England hold their nerve to beat India and qualify. Gritty win.

Have they turned a corner under Edwards?

Almost certain to face South Africa in the semi. I'd back SA to take revenge for their earlier thrashing. But better them than Australia.

[alfie]

Not sure England have "turned a corner" exactly : still have a hole in the middle of the batting which is their main weakness. But the fielding has improved a lot ; and Smith has given the bowling an extra dimension - not least in conditions where spin rather than pace is the important weapon.

The best thing about this win was that they held their nerve in the field (while India's bats didn't). So yes I do think Charlotte is making progress. Will need a couple of young bats to emerge to become the finished article ; but I quite like their chances of reaching the final here (Says he hoping not to jinx !)

[Durhamfootman]

Unfortunately rain starting to dominate this competition now

I've only just discovered that this time of the year in SL is full blown monsoon season, so probably unsurprising really. Even the BBC weather reporters say that the weather is so entirely predictable in SL at this time of the year that they can pretty much guarantee that it will be hot and sunny in the morning, go dull early afternoon and then ssip down for the rest of the day

It's so ridiculous to hold a tournament like this in the middle of monsoon season that I imagine the ICC must have left it up to the ECB to make all the arrangements

[bigfluffylemon]

Much as I enjoy berating the ECB, sounds like this one is firmly at the feet of the BCCI for refusing to let Pakistan play any matches in India.

Quite why they need to be d/n matches rather than day I don't know. Maybe seeking the evening TV audience? Obviously daft - no play, no viewers, but that's the only reason I can think of.

I still hate the round robin format. Drags on far too long and produces so little jeopardy. After 5 rounds 3 teams had qualified and three were out of contention (maybe not mathematically, but for all practical purposes). Ever since 2007, the design of ICC tournaments seems to be first and foremost maximising the number of matches India will play while minimising their chance of an early exit. Good cricket and inclusively come a long way down the list.

I would laugh if India fail to make the semis, but it isn't likely - even if they lose to NZ, requires NZ to also beat England, as India are ahead on all the tiebreaker if both teams finish on 6. The Kiwis will be feeling pretty hard done by on the weather and scheduling if that happens.

[andy]

England Vs Australia today... unfortunately not a lot riding on it as both teams already qualified however still an interesting game...Alyssa Healy is out with a calf problem...Georgia voll to come in for her and Mooney to take the gloves

[andy]

Australia win the toss and choose to bat.....voll molineux and Garth all back in for OZ...England unchanged...stunned still no place for wyatt-hodge!

[andy]

Beaumont is up and running! Gets a free hit and smacks it straight back over garths head for 6!

[andy]

England off to a flyer 35-0 after 5...won't be long before we see ash Gardner I think

[andy]

50 already up! 55-0 in the 8th

[andy]

Surely time for spin? Molineux maybe...ball sliding onto beaumont

[alfie]

Bright start by England...but Sutherland has put a stop to the opening partnership immediately on entering the attack. So no doubt Australia will be thinking they are only two more wickets away from the tail

Jokes aside I hope one at least of that underperforming 5-7 can put in a decent shift tonight. But not over confident ... still puzzled they refuse to try Wyatt , who must surely now be seen as only there in case of an injury.