Australia’s all-conquering girls’s cricket crew continued their dominance of the game after edging out India within the Commonwealth Video games last at Edgbaston, however not earlier than Covid-19 has served up a dose of drama.
Meg Lanning’s facet secured a nine-run win to say the primary Commonwealth gold awarded to girls in a good match through which India threatened to tug off a exceptional run chase proper to the dying.
The history-making victory got here amid excessive drama although, with Australia confirming halfway by their innings that all-rounder Tahlia McGrath had examined constructive to Covid-19 on the morning of the match.
If the ultimate had been held in Australia, McGrath wouldn't have been in a position to play however the Commonwealth Video games guidelines are extra relaxed to match the legal guidelines of the host nation.
After checking with our bodies together with the Worldwide Cricket Council and the Commonwealth Video games Basis – leading to a 12-minute delay to the toss – she was allowed to take her place, with precautions. Sporting a masks, she sat remoted from her teammates through the batting innings and in a surreal second after taking a catch within the third over, she waved her teammates away as they ran to have a good time.
“We had been all comfortable to play, she was comfortable to play,” quick bowler Megan Schutt mentioned after the sport. “She feels completely fantastic so I believe the constructive outcome was a little bit of a shock to her, however that’s Covid isn’t it – we’re all going to dwell by it.”
When the ultimate wicket was confirmed by the third umpire, McGrath went from standing outdoors the crew huddle to leaping into it. And when she acquired her medal on the rostrum, she was, in stark distinction to her teammates, masked.
“We didn’t wish to get in hassle, we felt unhealthy for Tahlia on the finish there,” Schutt mentioned. “Clearly if you’re a part of a sport that’s so thrilling like that, that’s all you wish to do [is celebrate] and on the finish screw it, if we get Covid, so be it.”
Whereas India maintained a diplomatic line, it's believed they weren't as supportive of the choice. “Earlier than the toss we acquired to know ... that was one thing which was not in our management and regardless of the choice the Commonwealth had, we needed to observe it,” skipper Harmanpreet Kaur mentioned.
Opener Beth Mooney – who starred with the bat making 61 off 41 balls – mentioned: “It’s an actual disgrace that in elite sport you get publicly shamed for having Covid when over right here in all probability 90% of the folks on this room have it proper now.
“No-one’s testing, no-one’s doing something. It’s only a actual disgrace she couldn’t have a good time with us, however on the identical time I believe the appropriate choice was made when it comes to letting her play. Hopefully folks aren’t too upset about it”.
Australia had been on high till reeled in late of their innings. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur then batted brilliantly when scoring 65 from 43 balls. However when she was caught by record-breaking wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy off the bowling of Ash Gardner within the sixteenth over, the momentum swung again in direction of the Australians.
“As soon as she [Kaur] flicked the change there and began bombing us for fours and sixes we knew we had been in hassle ... her wicket, that was absolutely the turning level,” Schutt mentioned. India got here all the way down to needing 11 off the ultimate over, however Jess Jonassen wanted solely three balls to complete off the tail.
“It means much more than a I believed it did earlier than these Commonwealth Video games,” Schutt mentioned.
Australia may have made issues simpler for themselves had they gone on with what was wanting like being an enormous complete. Mooney and skipper Meg Lanning (36 off 26) placed on 74 for the second wicket, and at 109-3 with seven overs to go, 180-plus was within the offing.
Australian Related Press contributed to this report
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