Colombo, Sri Lanka: Beth Mooney hit one of the most memorable centuries in the history of women ODIs as defending champion Australia overcame a top-order collapse and thumped Pakistan by 107 runs at the Women’s Cricket World Cup on Wednesday.
Mooney made a masterful 109 off 114 balls to raise her first World Cup hundred after Australia had wobbled to 76-7 against Pakistan spin trio of Nashra Sandhu, Rameen Shamim and Sadiq Iqbal.
Beth Mooney congratulated by teammate Alana King after reaching her century in Australia’s match against Pakistan.Credit: Getty Images
No.10 batter Alana King upped the scoring rate in the death overs with an unbeaten 51 off 49 balls as she raised the highest-ever ninth-wicket stand in women’s ODIs by putting on 106 runs with Mooney as Australia eventually finished at a challenging 221-9.
The fast bowling pair of Kim Garth (3-14) and Megan Schutt (2-25) snapped five wickets inside the power play before Pakistan got bowled out for 114 – its third straight loss.
Australia, which beat New Zealand before its game against Sri Lanka was washed out last Saturday in Colombo, leads the points table with five points after three matches.
Pakistan batting woes continued as its top-order struggled against pace and spin. Sidra Amin, who scored half century against arch rival India, top-scored with 35 off 52 balls but Australia kept striking through before bowling out Pakistan in 36.3 overs. Amin was the only Pakistan batter among top six to reach double figures.
Pakistan’s Sidra Amin plays a shot during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Pakistan.Credit: AP
Earlier, Australia top-order capitulated against three Pakistan spinners, who picked up 6-98 off their combined 30 overs, after skipper Fatima Sana had won the toss and elected to field.
Left-arm spinner Iqbal found the turn from the word go once Sana introduced the spinners as early as in the fifth over. Captain Alyssa Healy (20) struck three boundaries but flicked Iqbal straight to midwicket in spinner’s second over and Sana followed it up by taking a well judged catch of Phoebe Litchfield’s (10) expansive shot of her own bowling.
