Reigning champions Australia romped to their third win in three matches as they crushed Pakistan by nine wickets at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup held at the Dubai International Stadium here on Friday. Australia rode on a superb effort by their bowlers to bundle out Pakistan for 82 and then reach 83/1 with 54 balls remaining for a nine-wicket triumph that took them to six points from three games.
However, two injury claims on players marred an otherwise dominant day for Australia as they moved to the brim of semifinal qualification. Early blow to Australia came in the match as they lost pacer Tayla Vlaeminck to a shoulder injury she suffered on the field. Still, the depleted Australian bowling attack proved quite tough for Pakistan to handle as they took stranglehold over the Group A contest.
Ashleigh Gardner returned excellent figures of 4-21, as did Georgia Wareham 2-16, Megan Schutt 1-7, Sophie Molineux 1-19 and Annabel Sutherland 2-15.
Only four Pakistan batters reached double figures, with Aliya Riaz top-scoring with a defiant 26 (off 32 balls) from number six.
And the chase was as easy as a cakewalk for Australia, who reached 83/1 in just 11 overs. Alyssa Healy topped the score sheet with 37 not out, although the skipper retired hurt after picking an injury while running for a quick single.
Australia skipper Alyssa Healy made the right call as she opted to bowl first against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Champions Pakistan lost two wickets in the Power-play to keep the opponents on 23/2 after the opening six overs.
Muneeba Ali was the first to go, lofting a catch to Phoebe Litchfield off Sophie Molineux for 7, and Sadaf Shamas was not far behind her, backing herself back into the dugout, caught behind off Megan Schutt for 3. Australia lost a wicket when Tayla Vlaeminck was forced from the field with an injury she collected off just the fourth ball of the innings.
Australia proved their impressive strength in depth in quality as they managed to claim two more wickets with the change bowlers. All-rounder Annabel Sutherland had opener Sidra Amin (12) trapped in front and Georgia Wareham sent back Omaima Sohail for 3 while leaving Pakistan at four down, needing something special for a competitive score.
Pakistan's resistance seemed finally over when Nida Dar (10) got stumped off Healy off Wareham, but Aliya Riaz had other ideas, taking the game long. A three-wicket over from Gardner left Pakistan on the brink, and Sutherland finished the job as Riaz was finally dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings for 26.
Openers Healy and Beth Mooney gave Australia's chase a fantastic start, with a flurry of boundaries eating into the target inside the powerplay.
The exciting Sadia Iqbal ran over to get Mooney back for a run-a-ball 15, but Australia had already half-done the job in reaching 46/1 after six overs. Healy (37* from 23) was given a reprieve when she was dropped by Sandhu in the outfield and seemed well set to take the initiative by steering her side home.
However, the Australian skipper pulled up in the process of running a single off the first ball of the tenth over and was forced to retire hurt, leaving the field in clear discomfort.
Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner finished the job, reaching the target with nine overs to spare, meaning Australia are all-but guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 82 all out in 19.5 overs (Aliya Riaz 26; Ashleigh Gardner 4-21, Annabel Sutherland 2-15, Georgia Wareham 2-16) lost to Australia 83/1 in 11 overs (Alyssa Healy 37 ret hurt, Ellyse Perry 22 not out; Sadia Iqbal 1-17) by nine wickets.
Read also| We walked the talk as per decisions taken at team meeting, Says Suryakumar
