Undefeated Australians meeting every new World Cup challenge

Ellyse Perry won’t play at the World Cup on Friday as Australia looks to keep its unbeaten run going into the finals.

Australian captain Meg Lanning says teams have been ‘coming hard at us’. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Finding ways to ward off teams Australian captain Meg Lanning says have been “coming hard at us” has been a crucial new addition to her team’s World Cup armoury as the gap closes between teams around the world.

Victory in the final pool match against Bangladesh on Friday in Wellington will secure the Aussies, undefeated in six games so far, top spot on the table, although other results across the weekend will determine their semi-final opponent, and location.

A back spasm that kept superstar all-rounder Ellyse Perry from batting in Tuesday’s big win over South Africa remains the only injury concern for Australia heading into the finals and she won’t play against Bangladesh.

“Ellyse Perry came off the field against South Africa with a back spasm, but it is settling down with treatment,” Australian physio Kate Beerworth said.

“She won’t play (Friday) but we expect that she will be available for the semi-final.”

An update on Ellyse Perry ⬇️

Rest up Pez! #CWC22pic.twitter.com/6ELIGPb7i4

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) March 24, 2022

Australia has never played Bangladesh in an ODI but won’t be taking its foot off the pedal against a team that is no longer a minnow having lost in the final over to the West Indies after beating Pakistan to claim a first win.

Lanning said being the hunted had forced the Aussies to continually absorb pressure and work their way through new situations, which included twice having to set new run-chasing records to keep their unbeaten run going.

“Teams are coming hard at us when we’re batting and trying to take some early wickets and put us under pressure and they’ve been able to do that at times,” she said.

“I think to the West Indies game, the New Zealand game where we were three for 50-odd, we’ve been able to battle our way through that and still post decent scores.

Meg Lanning says the Aussies have risen to the challenge. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“And the other thing is, I think over the last two games to keep two really good teams with wickets in hand towards the back end to 270-odd when they had a pretty good base was a great effort from the bowlers, I think we’ve been able to go to our plan Bs and Cs and try and restrict them as best we can.

“And we’re going to have to continue to do that because teams come hard at us. They sort of get up when they play against us and we’re ready for that, to absorb a bit of pressure and then sort of push back when we need to, so it certainly hasn’t been easy.

“It’s been a very challenging tournament so far and we’re expecting that to happen into the semi-finals as well. It’s a great competition. There’s been some close finishes and hopefully we can continue improving and really be able to hold our nerve under pressure.”

The semi-finals will be played in Wellington and Christchurch on March 30 and 31 before the World Cup final, again in Christchurch, on April 3.

Originally published as Undefeated Australians meeting every new World Cup challenge