Australia storm into final of Women's World Cup

Five-time champions Australia entered the final of the ICC Women's World Cup after thrashing Sri Lanka by nine wickets in their second Super Six match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

In reply to Sri Lanka's paltry 131, Australia chased down the target in just 22.2 overs. This was Australia's fifth successive victory in the tournament.

Openers Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes provided a solid platform as the duo stitched a 55-run partnership.

Haynes scored an unbeaten 71 off 61 balls laced with nine fours and two sixes, while Lanning hit a 36-ball 37 studded with six fours and a six.

Prasadini Weerakkody was the only Lankan bowler to have picked up a wicket, getting rid of Lanning.

Earlier, put in to bat, Sri Lanka started on a disastrous note to be reeling at 41 for four before they eventually got all out for 131 in 45.2 overs.

Aussie off-spinner Erin Osborne was the pick of the bowlers, scalping three for nine from her 10 overs.

Incidentally this was Sri Lanka's highest score against Australia, as they were earlier bundled out for 82 in 2000 and 57 in 2005.

Deepika Rasangika (43), who batted at No. 3, anchored the innings to an extent and shared a 49-run stand with wicketkeeper-batter Dilani Manodara (21) to steer the team past 100-run mark.

Australia's pace attack exploited the conditions well as Megan Schutt, Julie Hunter and Holly Ferling picked up wicket apiece at the start.

Australia were without the services of pace spearhead Ellyse Perry, who aggravated an ankle injury. 

Cricket Australia Physiotherapist Claire Stokes in a statement said, "Perry has suffered an exacerbation of a pre-existing ankle impingement injury. At this stage we expect her to be fit for the next match against the West Indies."

After losing Yashoda Mendis (0), Chamari Athapaththu (10), skipper Shashikala Siriwardene (2) and Sandamali Dolawatta (4) within the first 16 overs, Sri Lanka crawled their way back for a brief period.

The left-hander Rasangika batted patiently in the able company of Manodara and the duo steadied the innings to some extent.

Rasangika struck seven fours in her 77-ball innings before she was caught at extra cover by Lisa Sthalekar. 

Sri Lanka suffered another blow when they lost the set Manodara at the same score of 90. Osborne, who dismissed Manodara, struck in her next over to dismiss the dangerous Eshani Kaushalaya Lokusooriya for a duck.

The Sri Lankan tail wagged a bit to prolong the innings and the last three batters managed to add 23 runs.

Photograph: Pal Pillai/Getty Images