Australia demolished West Indies by 157 runs in a rain-curtailed semi-final of the 2022 Women's World Cup to stretch their run of unbeaten matches in the tournament to eight. A hundred from Alyssa Healy took Australia to 305/3. In response, barring Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin, no West Indies batter put up a challenge.
The match started with a delay due to continuous rain in Wellington. More than two hours were wasted, and the match was reduced to 45 overs a side. Taylor won the toss and decided to bowl, keeping the rain in mind. West Indies brought in Anisa Mohammed for Afy Fletcher.
Openers Healy and Rachel Haynes began cautiously against the tight bowling of Chinelle Henry and Shamilia Connell. Matthews' first three overs went for just four. However, four fours in the 14th and 15th overs helped them break the shackles. They reached 100 in the 20th over, and both batters reached their respective fifties. Then they exploded.
The second fifty took Healy just 28 balls after she had taken 63 balls to reach fifty. As the opening stand reached 200, the West Indian bowlers started erring in line and length, and catches went down. Anisa leaving with an injury after sending down two overs did not help their cause either.
Healy eventually fell to Connell for 129, with the team score on 215 – Australia's third-best opening partnership. Henry then picked up two wickets in the same over, dismissing Haynes for 85 and Ash Gardner for 12. But Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney continued with the onslaught, taking Australia to 305/3 in 45 overs.
Mooney then caught Rashada Williams at square leg to help Megan Schutt get the first wicket. Dottin scored a quick 34 before falling to Tahlia McGrath in the 10th over. Taylor and Matthews batted for 13 overs without urgency, letting the asking rate soar past nine. Jess Jonassen then got Matthews for 34, effectively ending all hope for West Indies. None of the other batters reached double digits after that. Alana King's wicket of Taylor, for 48, ended the match as the last two West Indies batters did not come out to bat due to injuries.
West Indies were all out for 148 with Jonassen picking up 2-14 and five others getting a wicket each. Australia will now wait for the winners of England and South Africa match to meet them in the final on 3 April.
Brief Scores
Australia 305/3 (Alyssa Healy 129; Chinelle Henry 2-51) beat West Indies 148 (Stafanie Taylor 48; Jess Jonassen 2-14) by 157 runs. Player of the Match: Alyssa Healy.