Women’s T20: Australia beat Ireland by 78 runs

A captain’s knock of 126 runs by Meg Lanning guided the Australia women’s team to taste a huge 78-run victory against Ireland women’s team in a Group-A match of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 at Sylhet Stadium on Thursday. Replying to Australia’s a tough total of 191, Ireland scored 113 runs for 7 in 20 overs with skipper Isobel Joyce making 28 runs off 35 balls with two fours. In the 2nd wicket stand, opener Clare Shillington pairing with two down Melissa Scott-Hayward contributed 48 runs in 8.3 overs, before she (Shillington) was caught and bowled by Erin Osborne delivery scoring 22 runs off 31 balls, leaving the team total to 51-2 in 10.1 overs. Number six Elena Tice made 19 runs off 15 balls with a four. Ellyse Perry and Erin Osborne captured two wickets each for 17 and 29 runs respectively while Jess Jonassen took one wicket conceding 19 runs. Earlier, batting first, after winning the toss, Australia posted 191 runs for 4 wickets in 20 overs. After the dismissal of opener Alyssa Healy for 9 with scoreboard showing 21 for 1 in 2.4 overs, captain Meg Lanning pairing with other opener Delissa Kimmince contributed 86 runs in 10.2 overs in the 2nd wicket stand before Kimmince was caught by Cecelia Joyce off Elena Tice delivery. Lanning made a century scoring 126 runs off just 65 balls with 18 fours and 4 sixes while Kimmince scored 35 runs off 34 balls with four fours. In the 3rd wicket stand, Lanning continued her composure partnering with two down Alex Blackwell to contribute another 83 runs in 6.5 overs, before she (Lanning) was caught by Cecelia Joyce off a Isobel Joyce delivery, with scoreboard showing 190 for 3 in 19.5 overs. Alex Blackwell made run a-ball 12 before being run out off a Clare Shillington delivery. Elena Tice, Isobel Joyce and Eimear Richardson took one wicket each for 25, 32 and 50 runs respectively.