Australia clinched a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup by beating South Africa and ending the group stage with four wins from four.
It was a dominant Tahlia McGrath who led the way with the bat, reaching her half-century in 29 deliveries and finishing on 57 off 33.
She posted an 81-run partnership with Ashleigh Gardner to steer the Aussies home.
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Commentator Mel Jones called it McGrath’s “second coming” after a string of injuries hampered her career in recent years.
”They are a machine and they are playing some serious cricket at the moment,” ex-England captain Nasser Hussain said of Australia.
Australia, the top-ranked team and defending champion, was impressive again to cruise past South Africa by six wickets, comfortably chasing down the tournament host’s 6-124 and finshing on 4-125 with more than three overs to spare.
Australia was without injured opening batter and wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy but that made no difference to the performance.
Middle-order batter McGrath thumped 10 fours in her 57 from 33 balls as Australia raced to victory and was confirmed as the Group 1 winner.
England came through its toughest test yet by holding off India by 11 runs in their top-of-the-table meeting in Group 2.
India, which also came into the game in Gqeberha unbeaten, fell short of England’s total of 7-151 despite 52 from opener Smriti Mandhana and another fighting innings at the end by wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who made 47 not out but wasn’t able to take her team home this time.
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India managed only 5-140 and England is clear at the top of the group and within a whisker of a place in the last four. England plays Pakistan in its last group game on Wednesday (AEDT).
England began the game under pressure when seamer Renuka Singh struck in each of her first three overs, removing Danni Wyatt for a duck, Alice Capsey for three and Sophia Dunkley for 10.
Nat Sciver-Brunt rescued England from 3-29 with her 50 from 42 balls, and her partnerships of 51 with Heather Knight and 40 with Amy Jones ensured the English posted a competitive total at St George’s Park.
Mandhana was up for the challenge, crashing seven fours and a six. But she fell in the 16th over and straight after hitting her six, caught at long-on attempting another big shot, to leave India too much to do.
“It’s good to see that our batting group showed character even after 29 for 3,” England captain Knight said.
“We haven’t really played against a big team recently and to play like this against this Indian team was fantastic.”
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