Steve Whiting in Christchurch
England’s eight-wicket win over Ireland in the Women’s World Cup on Thursday moves them back into the top four semifinal places and puts the pressure on South Africa to take maximum points from Sri Lanka on Friday.
As former captain Kim Price says: “We are behind England now, but it is only on run rate and we have a game in hand. That makes the Sri Lanka game vital but in a tournament like this every game is vital.”
England kept Ireland down to 103 off 44.2 overs, with Clare Taylor taking
4/25, and knocked off the runs with two wickets down. The only talking point was that England played the whole game with 10 players after Laura Harper injured her knee in the warm-up.
Wednesday’s results ran according to form. India, with wins over England and South Africa, were quietly confident of beating the all-conquering Australians. But the champions, who have won the World Cup four of the six times it has been contested, made 223/5, to beat India (172/8) by 51 runs.
New Zealand, who look like the only team to mount a serious challenge to Australia, saw off Holland, who were bowled out for 80, by eight wickets. The feature of that game was the bowling of Kiwi veteran Cathy Campbell, whose off-spinners brought her a World Cup economy best of 10-7-3-0. Not bad for a woman who spent the time leading up to the tournament acting as its chief organiser!
First and fourth meet in the semifinals. Second plays third.