Cricket: Allrounder steers Indians to victory

An outstanding performance by Indian allrounder Rupanjali Shastri inspired her team to an exciting win over England in the women's cricket World Cup in Christchurch yesterday.

Shastri was the individual star in a gripping match decided in the last over when England fell eight runs short of India's 155 for seven.

It was England's second loss in three matches at the Cricinfo-sponsored tournament and left them in the difficult position of needing to beat reigning champions Australia and hosts New Zealand to reach the semifinals.

Shastri could hardly put a foot wrong after clubbing an unbeaten 29 off 28 balls, including two fours and two sixes, capturing three wickets for 25, taking a catch and effecting a run out.

One of her victims was Claire Taylor, who resurrected the England innings after they had crawled to 35 for four in the 21st over.

Shastri caught and bowled Taylor for 60, off 93 balls, in the 42nd over to reduce England to 113 for six before two run outs in the closing overs sealed England's fate as they were dismissed for 147.

Smitha Harikrishna and Deepa Kulkarni picked up two wickets apiece for India, who had earlier stumbled when slipping to six for two after deciding to bat first.

Mithali Raj and Chandrakanta Kaul then enjoyed a 45-run partnership and Kaul went on to top score with 45, from 78 balls and including five fours.

In the other game, South Africa secured their second win in three matches, beating the Netherlands by four wickets in a low-scoring match.

Chasing a victory target of just 93, South Africa were cruising at 51 for one before they got the jitters, losing four wickets for 15 runs before Daleen Terblanche saw them safely home in 26.2 overs.

Terblanche contributed an unbeaten 33 as she successively played a sheet-anchor role while Sunette Viljoen took the attack to the Netherlands.

Viljoen was the dominant force in a second-wicket stand of 48 off just 52 balls, her share being a feisty 32 from 28 deliveries, including six fours.

- NZPA