We're not fit enough: Mark Robinson

Charlotte Edwards, the England Women's captain, had touted Australia to be favourites ahead of the semifinal clash of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. Come Wednesday (March 30), Australia proved just why they are one of the best sides in game.

After Alyssa Healy and Elyse Villani got Australia off to a flying start, their ever-dependent captain Meg Lanning led the way with her second half-century of the tournament to get her side to 132 - about 20 short given they were 47 for 1 after six.

England responded in fine fashion, led once again by Charlotte Edwards, who averages a whopping 50.50, having scored over 200 runs in the tournament. However, their wobbly middle-lower order, that only just managed to cross the line in earlier games, failed to do that on the day as England were ousted from the tournament after being handed a five-run loss, having slipped to 117 for 7 from 89 for 1.

"Both teams got to similar stages," said Mark Robinson, England's coach, after their first loss in the tournament. "Both teams struggled to get boundaries in the end. It was all about the first 10 overs. We didn't bowl well enough in the first 10. The batting will get all the attention but with big boundaries, slowish bowlers, no one in front of the wicket, it's hard to find the boundaries."

Of Lanning's 55, 35 came from cover behind square, which Robinson attributed to his bowlers bowling with too much width. "It's the line and the pace you are trying to get. We've lost by a boundary. It's heart-breaking."

That said, with the start England got off to, at the halfway stage with 67 for 1, it seemed like the curtains were being drawn on Australia. However, England could have been in a much-better position had the opening pair of Edwards and Tammy Beaumont converted the singles into doubles that were on offer. That costed them a pretty penny in the end.

"One boundary, two twos... if you can find that. I feel for all the girls. Take the hat off to Australia. There's nothing between these two teams. We've got to get fitter. We're not fit enough. They out-ran us.

"Athleticism is something you are given by God but fitness is something we've got to get better, because we missed out on twos. We've got to change our mindset a bit, toughen up a bit, get a few more warriors like the captain.

"We know we're going in the right direction. The danger is that we over-analyse. "For me it's quite simple. We've got to get fitter, toughen up a bit," added a disappointed Robinson.