Australia win by six wickets and have done it at a canter despite their early wobble. A magnificent stand between Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner. Is there a way this team can be stopped? Both played important roles with the ball, too, while Alana King was also magnificent. England started brightly but became frozen against King. Then with the ball, they couldn't sustained the pressure when Australia were four down. It wasn't a game of huge significance with both teams into the semis, but it's another massive statement from the defending champions.
From Sampath: Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner's unbeaten 180-run partnership is the second highest for the fifth or a lower wicket in Women's ODIs behind 188* by Claire Taylor and Jane Smit against Sri Lanka in the 2000 World Cup.
Annabel Sutherland is player of the match. "It was pretty fun, always good batting with Ash, she keeps the game moving, pretty good seat up the other end. Just trying to have some time in the middle, when you got in it was a really nice wicket. I know when I get in, I'll cash. Trusting my game. We knew the game was going to keep moving, such a hard ground to defend on. The spinners did a fantastic job, especially Alana King."
Nat Sciver-Brunt "We didn't have enough runs. Alana King bowed very well in the middle overs and really restricted us. It made it very difficult to get a partnership together. Tammy played very well for her score. With the lights coming on, I think the conditions did change a little bit, although I guess we bowled well in patches. But it just showed the partnership that Ash and Belsey had there, it just took the game away from us. [On King] I guess being really clear on what shots that you did want to play. So probably playing off the back foot would be more useful. Then working out how to get her to bowl the length that you want to play off the back foot. So either using her feet or little paddles or something like that. That would be something that I would be reflecting on myself. [Can you beat Australia?] Yeah, definitely."
Tahlia McGrath "Very happy. Spinners did a fantastic job with the ball. A little bit of a shaky start with the bat, but then Bells and Ash were just world class. So good to watch them. It was clinical and I feel for Bells a bit, not getting a hundred. She thoroughly deserved it. [On King] I knew she was our key match-up. She's got a really good record against England and matches up really well to pretty much their whole batting line-up. So at one stage I was tossing up whether it was 10 straight because she was on fire [but] we decided to pull her back for some new batters. But she was so good today. Hit her length, relentless and found a bit of turn. [On Sutherland] She is such a gun and I think it's scary how young she still is. She's one of our hardest trainers. Her planning is meticulous and whenever we're in trouble, you sort of just turn to Bells. She's that good. [On Healy] A bit day by day, I'll leave that in the hands of the physio."
On that note, I'll wrap things up for tonight. Australia have shown their class and depth once again. Will take a mighty fine performance to stop them lifting the trophy, but in knockout games you never know. There's a huge game tomorrow with India facing New Zealand which could decide the semi-final line-up. We'll be back with full coverage of that but for now, from Gnasher and Miller, it's goodbye.
Will Gardner block the over or get it done?
Four to win, five for a century. Try for a six? Or try for a two then a boundary? Sciver-Brunt and Ecclestone just make her wait
END OF OVER:40 | 7 Runs | AUS-W: 241/4 (4 runs required from 60 balls, RR: 6.02, RRR: 0.40)
- Ashleigh Gardner100 (72b)
- Annabel Sutherland95 (110b)
- Lauren Bell8-0-48-1
- Sophie Ecclestone9-0-55-1
Gardner needs 4, Sutherland needs 8
END OF OVER:39 | 16 Runs | AUS-W: 234/4 (11 runs required from 11 overs, RR: 6.00, RRR: 1.00)
- Ashleigh Gardner96 (68b)
- Annabel Sutherland92 (108b)
- Sophie Ecclestone9-0-55-1
- Lauren Bell7-0-41-1
Hajji49: "Wow... just wow! Early wickets, in form captain injured, no problem. Barring a late miracle, congrats Aus. Well played."
Ecclestone back
END OF OVER:38 | 9 Runs | AUS-W: 218/4 (27 runs required from 12 overs, RR: 5.73, RRR: 2.25)
- Annabel Sutherland91 (107b)
- Ashleigh Gardner81 (63b)
- Lauren Bell7-0-41-1
- Linsey Smith8-0-43-2
Dr John Hunt: "my earlier prediction of an easy England win may have been incorrect."
Bell returns
Sean: "The scary part of the Aussie domination is that so far Perry has had a quiet World Cup. She is due and likely will deliver when it matters most in the finals."
END OF OVER:37 | 4 Runs | AUS-W: 209/4 (36 runs required from 13 overs, RR: 5.64, RRR: 2.76)
- Annabel Sutherland85 (103b)
- Ashleigh Gardner79 (61b)
- Linsey Smith8-0-43-2
- Alice Capsey2-0-18-0