Australia Women vs West Indies Women, 1st Semi-Final Match Summary

That's a wrap - Australia go six from six and now stand just one step away from reclaiming the Women's T20 World Cup crown. This was a rather lopsided semifinal, but here's hoping the second semifinal between England and South Africa serves up a much closer contest. That clash will take place on Thursday, July 2, here at the Oval, with the first ball scheduled for 5.30 pm GMT. Until then, it's goodbye from us.

The skipper of Australia Women - Sophie Molineux says the biggest lesson over the last couple of weeks has been learning to ride the momentum swings that come with a T20 World Cup. She admits she has enjoyed the experience thoroughly, and so has the group, calling that the standout takeaway from the campaign. She adds the team made a conscious effort not to get ahead of themselves, and now they can finally turn their attention to the final, which she says is a pretty special feeling. Sophie Molineux says she actually had no idea about Dottin's situation before play, revealing she didn't find out until five or six overs into the innings, since Dottin wasn't even expected to bat at that stage. She notes that once Dottin did come out, she made a real impact on the game. On the decision to stick with seamers a little longer through the Powerplay, Molineux credits Kim Garth for shaping the ball nicely both ways and bowling well in that phase, adding that Lucy also did a good job. She felt it was simply the best matchup against Matthews and Joseph, and is pleased with how well the side bowled overall. She acknowledges both batters tried to take the attack to Australia, but is happy the team held its nerve through that period. On any change of plans heading into the chase, Molineux shares that there wasn't one, with the side simply looking to get the job done as quickly as possible. She credits Beth Mooney and Gardner for being clinical with the bat, while detailing that Voll played a handy innings to get them off to a good start and ease the nerves back in the change room. On Ellyse Perry being retired hurt, Molineux puts it down to precaution, explaining it was simply quad awareness, and adds the signs are that Perry should be more than fine to take the field on Sunday. When asked about plans for the five-day break before the final, Molineux jokes that sleep is top of the list, and admits she is looking forward to a proper night's rest tonight. She says the group will take time to celebrate what has been a pretty special couple of weeks, before shifting focus to resting and recovering without overthinking what lies ahead.

The captain of West Indies Women - Hayley Matthews says that they didn't have their best game and didn't play to their full potential. She adds that if they had given their full team performance, things could have panned out differently. She reckons that Dottin going out after the national anthem was a bit scary, but she came back in and played like a warrior. Mentions that it was a difficult game and she should have played a bit better with the bat. On being asked how things went so far, she says that their team is really good and that getting to the semis is a good achievement.

Time to hear from the captains....

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Ashleigh Gardner has been given the award for her all-round display. She finished with exceptional bowling figures, reading 2/13 in 4 overs and stayed unbeaten in the chase on 35 (20). Gardner notes that carrying a bit of momentum always helps a side, and admits India were the toughest opponents Australia came up against in the tournament. She adds that it helped that the team could stay put in London with just a short trip to get to this game. She also reflects on her own tournament with the ball, noting she hadn't contributed as much as she'd have liked until now, and is glad to have saved her best for this stage. Gardner explains the wicket was actually a touch inconsistent with its bounce despite expectations of a true surface. She notes the opposition has batters who thrive on finding boundaries, so dot balls and singles were effectively wins for the bowling unit, with the focus on shutting down the key hitters rather than chasing wickets outright. Turning to her own batting, Gardner says confidence is everything for her, and it comes down to giving herself a proper chance once she has the bat in hand. She admits she has thrown her wicket away too early in the past and feels she does better when she takes time to assess the conditions early on, before looking to free her arms against the sweepers and running hard between the wickets with her partner.

A spark that came too late - After being asked to bat first, West Indies made a decent start through the opening three overs before their innings hit a roadblock. Qiana Joseph struggled to get going, and the mounting pressure eventually told on Hayley Matthews at the other end. Once Australia broke the opening stand, they chipped away at the wickets at regular intervals. It was only with the arrival of Deandra Dottin, who walked in at number 8, that the Windies innings found some spark. Why so low, you might ask? Just around the time of the national anthems, Dottin had to be carried off the field by her teammates, and there were genuine fears that she might not take any part in the game. She did return, though, and provided the late impetus that her side desperately needed, helping them finish with 125.

Business as usual - With only 125 to chase, Georgia Voll provided Australia with a brisk start but could not carry on for long. Her opening partner, Beth Mooney, then took over. As she has done throughout her career, Mooney relied on proper cricketing shots and manipulated the field beautifully to cruise along. She found an able partner in Ashleigh Gardner, who remained unbeaten as the pair saw Australia through to yet another World Cup final. The only concern for the Aussies was Ellyse Perry, who, rather curiously, walked off the field with the physio after facing just 7 balls.

Australia march into the final - The six-time champions strut their stuff to reach an eighth Women's T20 World Cup final. A date with destiny at Lord's now awaits the Aussies, where they will face either England or South Africa in the title clash. For the West Indies, for the second tournament in a row, their campaign ends at the last-four stage. They needed to be at their very best to challenge the might of Australia, but 125 was never going to be enough against a side boasting such enviable batting depth.

FOUR! Done and dusted in style. Australia Women qualify for the Grand Finale! Length ball, angled into the pads. Gardner gets that strong bottom hand working and whips it uppishly behind square, finding the gap to the right of deep square leg with ease to wrap up the chase with absolute ease. The Aussies win the semifinal by 8 wickets and 7 overs to spare. Sheer dominance in each and every department. High-fives and smiles all around in the Australian dugout as they have done it yet again, making an absolute stroll of an under-par target.

Short of a length and pitching outside leg. Mooney backs away and drags it across towards deep backward square leg for a single. 3 runs needed!

No Ball! Aaliyah Alleyne bowls from way behind the crease and her right leg clips the stumps at the bowling end on her follow-through. An off-pace delivery on the stumps, Gardner waits for it and chips it back over the bowler's head for a run. Free Hit coming up.

FOUR! Elegantly played! A half-volley, around off. Ashleigh Gardner gets under it nicely and pumps it over mid off for a boundary. Into single figures now. Just a matter of one big hit as Australia need 6 runs to win.

Slips a full toss on the pads. Ashleigh Gardner sits across to sweep. Misses and the ball deflects off the pads to deep fine leg. Two leg byes.

Full on the pads, whipped behind square on the leg side and they stroll through for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, Ashleigh Gardner crunches it away to deep cover for a single.

Slowish, on middle, Ashleigh Gardner tucks it to mid-wicket for a quick single. Just 14 more runs needed now.

Tossed up, on off, Beth Mooney knocks it down to long on for a single.

Flatter, on off, Beth Mooney looks to drive it but gets an inside edge. The ball rolls towards backward square leg as the batters collect two runs.

Nice and full, on off, Ashleigh Gardner drills it down to long on for one more.

Fired in, full and on off, Beth Mooney steps out and taps it wide of mid off for another single.

Fullish, on middle, Ashleigh Gardner flicks it over backward square leg for a single.

Karishma Ramharack (1-0-10-0) is brought back into the attack. She replaces Afy Fletcher.

Short, on middle, Ashleigh Gardner tugs it awkwardly towards short fine leg, where Qiana Joseph dives to her left and keeps it down to a single. Just 21 runs are needed now to book a spot in the final for the Aussies.

Full and straight, Beth Mooney pushes it to mid off for a single.

FOUR! The onslaught continues from Beth Mooney! Full and outside off, Beth Mooney reaches out to it and slashes it through backward point. Deandra Dottin dives to her right near the fence but fails to stop it as the ball races away. 100 comes up for Australia Women.

Flatter, on middle, Ashleigh Gardner flicks it to mid-wicket for one more.

Fifty up for Beth Mooney in 29 balls! Bangs it short, on off, Beth Mooney pulls it through mid-wicket for a single. Ian Smith on air mentions that this is her 8th T20 World Cup half century, which is the joint-highest with Suzie Bates. Simply brilliant from the Aussie opener.

Tossed up, outside off, Beth Mooney slashes it to backward point.

Hayley Matthews (2-0-15-1) is back.

Fullish, on middle and leg, Beth Mooney knocks it down to long on for a run. She moves to 49 now.