🏏ICC Women's T20I WC 2024: Group A: M 19- PakW vs NZW, Page 70🏏 - Page 45

PAKW 82 (19.5)

CRR: 4.13

Australia Women opt to bowl

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It is a mere total for Aussies, they will reach target within 10-15 overs!!

A clinical bowling performance by Australia Women as they have restricted Pakistan to a paltry total of 82. Electing to bowl first, Sophie Molineux got Australia the first breakthrough as she dismissed Muneeba Ali early in the powerplay. Tayla Vlaeminck dislocated her right shoulder while stopping a boundary and although Australia were without her services, they kept taking wickets at regular intervals. They kept a tight lid on the scoring and put Pakistan under tremedous pressure as they conceded no boundaries in the first 8 overs. In fact, there were only four boundaries conceded by Australia Women in 20 overs. Given the depth in their batting, they should be able to chase this total down without any hassle.

An innings that stuttered, stumbled and ultimately crashed. Pakistan seemed too cautious inside the powerplay and that seemed to flow over once the field restrictions were lifted. None of their batters got going, and Riaz, their top-scorer in the innings, also trickled along to 26 off 32, helped by a few hits to the fence towards the end.

Another clinical and tidy bowling display by the defending champions. They stuck to their plans, bowled at the stumps and rarely offered Pakistan any chances to break free. Gardner picked up four, with Sutherland and Wareham bagging a brace of wickets apiece. Molineux and Schutt were also among the wickets and they had so many options that they did not miss Vlaeminck, who suffered an injury in the first over.

Megan Schutt: (On what helps her succeed) Keeping it pretty simple. Speaks volumes of the team I have had behind me. Pretty stoked to have a good team around me. (Difference between Dubai and Sharjah) Not a huge difference. Cutters were gripping, spinners got some turn. To keep them under a 100 was great. She (Vlaeminck) gives a 100% all the time, which is often her downfall at times (laughs). But we will rally around her and try to keep her happy.

PAKW 82 (19.5)

AUSW 36/1 (4.1)

CRR: 8.64 REQ: 2.97

Australia Women need 47 runs in 95 balls

PAKW 82 (19.5)

AUSW 69/1 (9.1)

CRR: 7.53 REQ: 1.29

Australia Women need 14 runs in 65 balls

The physio runs out. This doesn't look good for Healy and Australia. Has she pulled a calf muscle here?

Syeda Aroob Shah to Perry, 2 runs, tossed up full outside off, Perry comes down the track and drives wide of extra-cover and wide of long-off for an easy two. Hang on - Healy is hobbling after reaching the other end. She is holding her left leg

Healy is walking off grimacing. She has retired hurt. Doesn't look like a cramp and Healy is distraught. We will wait and to see what the issue is.

Now, it is just a formality, to finish this match as early as possible.

Congratulations to Australia, for their emphatic victory.

AUSW 83/1 (11)

CRR: 7.55

Australia Women won by 9 wkts

Congratulations to Australia for winning the match.

Congratulations to Ashleigh Gardner for winning the PoTM award.

Cheers..

🏏New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 15th Match, Group A🏏

In a realistic scenario, this is exactly where New Zealand would have wanted to be heading into their final two group games.

Given they came into this World Cup on the back of 10 straight losses in the format, they weren't the favourites to finish top-two in a group featuring Australia and India. And having to face those two teams first up was always going to be a massive challenge.

However, they have managed to topple one of those two teams before their games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Even though nothing is guaranteed in this format, New Zealand are expected to come out on top against both of these teams.

If Australia cripples India's qualification chances on Sunday, the path becomes even clearer for New Zealand.

But for now, the focus is on getting the job done from their end.

Sri Lanka have been very poor in this tournament so far, losing all three games quite comfortably.

They were absolutely battered in their last game against India as well, and that would have dented their confidence big time.