Australia, England, and South Africa all cemented their place in the semi-finals last week, with Australia and England joint top of the table after 4 wins and 1 NR each, while South Africa ended the week with 4 wins and 1 loss.

At the end of the third week of league matches, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka all sat on 4 points, but both India and New Zealand had a game in hand on Sri Lanka in which they will face each other in ODI 24.

Bangladesh and Pakistan sat on 2 points each after the conclusion of match 21, with Bangladesh having won 1 of their matches whilst Pakistan remained without a win despite two NR.

ODI 22: South Africa vs Pakistan

South Africa had three players reach over 50 runs, with captain Laura Wolvaardt scoring 90 runs, Sune Luus scoring 61 and Marizanne Kapp ending the innings on 68 not out. However, 4 South African batters scored a duck as Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sundhu took 3 wickets each to leave South Africa at 312/9.

The rain-impacted day saw South Africa’s innings reduced to 40 overs, whilst Pakistan’s innings was reduced to 25 and then to 20 overs as Pakistan’s target was adjusted to 234 runs. However, South Africa claimed the victory as player of the match Kapp took 3 wickets for 22 runs to leave Sidra Nawaz as Pakistan’s highest run-scorer with 22 runs not out.

Result: South Africa beat Pakistan by 150 runs (DLS method).

ODI 23: Australia vs England

Tammy Beaumont was England’s highest scorer as she scored 78 runs off 105 balls, but a strong bowling display from Australia, which saw Annabel Sutherland take 3 wickets, kept England to 244 runs off their 50 overs.

Australia reached their target in 40 overs as Player of the Match Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner reached 98 not out and 104 not out, respectively, to put their side at the top of the standings. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Australians, as England began the innings well as they took 3 wickets for 24 runs, but it wasn’t enough, and the reigning champions fought back for the 2 points.

Result: Australia beat England by 6 wickets.

ODI 24: India vs New Zealand

India began their innings fantastically as their opening batswomen, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, scored 122 runs and 109 runs, respectively, whilst Jemimah Rodrigues also scored a half-century to leave India at 340/3 in 49 overs.

Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze were the only New Zealand batters to reach a half century, as Gaze scored 65 runs not out off 51 balls and Halliday reached 81 runs off 84 balls. However, they were unable to match the run scoring of India, who cemented their place in the semi-finals next week.

Result: India beat New Zealand by 53 runs (DLS method).

ODI 25: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Pakistan reached 18/0 in 4.2 overs thanks to Muneeba Ali’s 7 runs and Omaima Sohail’s 9 runs, but the match was abandoned due to heavy rain, and both teams took a point from the matchup.

Result: match abandoned

ODI 26: Australia vs South Africa

South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt scored their highest run total in their innings with 31 off 26 balls, with only two other batters reaching double figures, as South Africa were all out for 97 runs in 24 overs. Alana King was Australia’s standout bowler, as she took 7 wickets for only 18 runs for an economy of 2.57.

It didn’t take long for Australia to complete their chase, as Georgia Voll reached 38 not out and Beth Mooney scored 42 runs off 41 balls to help their nation cement their place at the top of the standings ahead of the semi-finals.

Result: Australia beat South Africa by 7 wickets.

ODI 27: England vs New Zealand

New Zealand reached 168 as England bowled them all out in 38.2 overs, with Georgia Plimmer recording New Zealand’s highest run total of 43 off 57 balls. Linsey Smith took the most wickets in the innings with 3/30 for an economy of 3.21.

Amy Jones finished the innings of 86 not out as England completed their chase with 29.2 overs gone. Their second highest scorer was Tammy Beaumont, who finished on 40 runs off 38 balls as both Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu took the wickets for New Zealand.

Result: England beat New Zealand by 8 wickets.

ODI 28: India vs Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s innings was interrupted by rain as they reached 119/9 in 27 overs thanks to their highest run scorer, Sharmin Akhter, who scored 36 runs off 53 balls. India’s Radha Yadav took 3 wickets for 30 runs to end with an economy of 5.00.

India’s opening batswomen, Smriti Mandhana and Amanjot Kaur, finished the innings not out for respective scores of 34 and 15, with the match being abandoned due to rain with just 8.4 overs played for India.

Result: match abandoned

Standings after ODI 28

India’s win over New Zealand confirmed their place in the semi-finals alongside 1st place Australia, 2nd place England and 3rd place South Africa.

Sri Lanka just missed out on the semi-finals, as they finished on 5 points, 2 points behind India’s 7 points, whilst New Zealand finished in 6th, with Bangladesh and Pakistan ending the tournament on 3 points apiece in 7th and 8th.

For the semi-finals, England will face South Africa on 29th October, whilst Australia will play India on 30th October, with both matches starting at 9:30.