Australia will look at course correction in its second Super Six game, following victory that was too close for comfort over England on Friday. The batters were short on confidence against a quality swing and seam attack at the Brabourne stadium, where Australia plays Sri Lanka in an ICC Women’s World Cup game on Sunday.
Captain Jodie Fields, aware of shortcomings in the batting unit so far in the event, will hope the experience of winning a close Super Six match will lift her players.
“We are a better team than that. It was seaming a bit, we need to work on our batting,” she said, referring to Friday’s show against England.
Lisa Sthalekar (41 off 59 balls, 4x4) batting at No.5 and Sarah Coyte (44 off 81 balls, 6x4) at No.7 saved the team considerable embarrassment after the top half caved in after 13 overs. Then, the bowlers covered for batters’ lapses and the fielders responded under pressure.
Aussies are a confident lot otherwise, feeding off each others’ energy on the field.
“To see ourselves defending 147 gives us confidence. As a team, we have a never-give-up sort of attitude. I am really excited to see the way the squad is preparing…everyone hungry to go and chase victory over Sri Lanka,” Fields said.
“The Lankans have a decent bowling line-up from whatever we have seen. They have got quality spinners taking a little pace off the ball. They are a tough side, they’ve achieved a few big victories in this World Cup, and have fully deserved those.
“We are certainly not taking this game lightly.”
Sri Lanka upbeat
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has gained enough experience with each match to realise what it takes to perform at World Cup levels.
The defeat to New Zealand in the Super Six tie at BKC, where swing bowlers call the shots, may have little bearing on the match against Australia at the Brabourne, where the track is lively but true.
The mood within the Lankan camp is so upbeat that somehow one or two players stand up in the face of pressure and produce match-winning performances.
The team does not know the meaning of giving up and does not bother about reputations.
Eshani Kaushalya Deepika Rasangika and Dilani Manodara carry forward confidence from earlier games.
Shashikala Siriwardena, the Lankan skipper, stressed on the need for the top-order to click for the side to put up a substantial total.
“We have done well whenever our top order has been in good form; then a score around 200 is possible. We have the bowling to defend that,” she said.
Australia has won all matches played in this edition of the World Cup so far. Sri Lanka has been inconsistent due to inexperience, but the side is learning on the job.
The Super Six topper is adept at remaining in control of match situations while the underdog knows anything is possible in the 50-over format.
