New Delhi: Three-time defending champion Australia and title contender England recorded important wins on Thursday to step closer to the semi-finals of the ICC Women's World Twenty20.
Australia, winner of the last three editions in 2010, 2012 and 2014, bounced back after a morale-sapping loss to New Zealand to thump Sri Lanka by nine wickets in New Delhi.
England, the winner of the inaugural edition in 2009 and runners-up to Australia in the last two tournaments, squeaked past the West Indies by one wicket in a last-ball thriller in Dharamsala.
Pakistan too kept its hopes alive with a nine-wicket demolition of Bangladesh in New Delhi, its second victory in three matches.
England and the West Indies faced each other level on four points each, but the hard-earned win on Thursday put Charlotte Edwards' girls ahead in the race for the semi-finals from Group B.
The West Indies was restricted to 108 for four after electing to bat with skipper Stafanie Taylor top-scoring with 35 and Shaquana Quintyne making 29.
Riding on Tammy Beaumont's 31 and Edwards'30, England moved to a comfortable 59 for no loss in eight overs when six wickets tumbled in the space of 24 runs.
England, which had lost eight wickets while chasing a target of 91 against India on Tuesday, began the last over from Deandra Dottin needing seven runs with two wickets in hand.
Anya Shrubsole scored two each off the first two balls before being bowled off the fourth. But Dottin bowled a wide off the fifth and conceded a bye off the last ball to hand England victory.
"We were very nervous in the dug-out," said Beaumont. "Having batted and been out, there was nothing much I could do except sit and watch and hope the girls pull it off. This is what they were able to do."
Taylor said the West Indies failed to get a good start with the ball. "We did not get early wickets but it was good to pull it back a bit in the end. Our spinners bowled well which is a positive we can take from the match,"
Sri Lanka, electing to bat against Australia, made a promising start through skipper Chamari Atapattu and wicket-keeper Dilani Manodara to reach 75 for one in the 11th over.
Both batters scored 38 each, but Australia fought back to restrict Sri Lanka to 123 for eight after 20 overs as Megan Schutt and Kristen Beams picked up two wickets each.
The Southern Stars raced past the target with 14 deliveries to spare after Elyse Villani (53 not out) and skipper Meg Lanning (56 not out) put on 98 for the unbroken second wicket.
Australia jumped to second place in Group A with its second win in three games and must defeat Ireland in New Delhi on Saturday to advance to the semi-finals.
New Zealand heads the group with three straight wins.
"At one stage it looked we were probably going to chase 140-150 but our bowlers did a great job to peg them back," said Lanning. "Its nice to have a pretty comprehensive win.
"We have so much talent in our top order but we just have not been able to put it on the park enough. I look forward to the challenge ahead."
Atapattu blamed the defeat on her team's performance in the field. "Our bowling and fielding were not very good which is very disappointing," the Sri Lankan captain said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan dominated Bangladesh from start to finish in New Delhi to draw level with the West Indies with four points each after three matches.
Anam Amin and Asmavia Iqbal shared four wickets as Bangladesh, electing to bat, was kept down to 113 for nine with Fargana Hoque being the principal scorer with 36.
Pakistan coasted home in the 17th over after Bismah Maroof hit an unbeaten 43 and Sidra Ameen made 53 not out during an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 99 runs.
Pakistan plays England in its last match in Chennai on Sunday, while the West Indies takes on India in Mohali the same day.
Pakistan captain Sana Mir was delighted at the emphatic win. "Extremely proud of the way we have played the last few matches," she said.
"We have been following England's progress and we think we have a very good chance of beating them and playing the semis."
Australia beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in New Delhi
Sri Lanka 123-8, 20 overs (Chamari Atapattu 38, Dilani Manodara 38; Megan Schutt 2-25, Kristen Beams 2-25)
Australia 125-1, 17.4 overs (Elyse Villani 53 not out, Meg Lanning 56 not out)
England beat West Indies by one wicket in Dharamsala
West Indies 108-4, 20 overs (Stefanie Taylor 35, Shaquana Quintyne 29; Anya Shrubsole 1-11)
England 109-9, 20 overs (Tammy Beaumont 31, Charlotte Edwards 30, Shaquana Quintyne 3-19)
Pakistan beat Bangladesh by nine wickets in New Delhi
Bangladesh 113-9, 20 overs (Fargana Hoque 36; Anam Amin 2-12, Asmavia Iqbal 2-30)
Pakistan 114-1, 16.3 overs (Bismah Maroof 43 not out, Sidra Ameen 53 not out)
Next fixtures: Saturday 26 March 2016
Australia v Ireland (1530) New Delhi
New Zealand v South Africa (1930) Bengaluru
Group tables:
Group A
Team Played Won Lost NNR Points
New Zealand 3 3 0 +2.5 6
Australia 3 2 1 +0.0 4
South Africa 2 1 1 +1.4 2
Sri Lanka 3 1 2 -0.5 2
Ireland 3 0 3 -2.9 0
Group B
Team Played Won Lost NNR Points
England 3 3 0 +0.7 6
West Indies 3 2 1 +0.8 4
Pakistan 3 2 1 +0.3 4
India 3 1 2 +1.1 2
Bangladesh 4 0 4 -2.3 0
