Meg Lanning has hailed her Australia team’s flying start after they beat England to secure a place in the women’s World Twenty20 final.
Lanning’s composed performance settled the contest at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in Delhi, and took her side closer to a fourth successive title.
Lanning hit 55 and Alyssa Healy 25 as Australia reached 132 for six. England’s chase was going well at 89 for one in the 14th over, Tammy Beaumont top-scoring with 32, but they collapsed to finish 127 for seven.
The captain said the key to winning was the 41 runs during the first six PowerPlay overs. “We knew the PowerPlay was crucial and that got us ahead. We were able to build on the momentum, and the bowlers did a great job to pull things back.”
Looking ahead to the final against either New Zealand or the West Indies, she added: “We don’t mind facing either of them. New Zealand have obviously done well so far in the tournament and the West Indies are capable of doing anything … even putting 160 on the board. It should be a good match tomorrow and we will be ready for either of them.”
England’s captain, Charlotte Edwards, said: “Australia held its nerve and that was the difference. We could not keep it going. We also did not start well with the ball but at least dragged it back a little. It was not meant to be for us today.”
