Ashleigh Gardner took Australia to a comprehensive victory over Pakistan in their Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium, which was an impressive display of skill and teamwork. This is likely to be Australia’s 14th successive win in T20 World Cups, which will take them all the way to cement their dominance in the format.
Effective Bowling by Gardner
Ashleigh Gardner also conjured up a brilliant bowling performance, taking four in four as many overs, for 21 runs. Georgia Wareham and Annabel Sutherland shared two apiece, further hastening the Pakistan innings that ended at 82 runs. On a flat wicket where balls were kissing the bat, the Bangladesh target was a parade for the champions who chased down the total in just 54 balls.
Pakistan Struggles Against Australia
Pakistan started the encounter with a lot to do to beat Australia, whom they have never beaten in 15 attempts. Losing captain Fatima Sana was another blow. Muneeba Ali, who had come in as an acting skipper, made some wise decisions for the playing XI by leaving out the two wayward openers Gull Feroza and instead bringing in Sadaf Shamas and Iram Javed into the side.
Early Breakthroughs Set The Tone
Bowling, Australia did not let up from the start, taking Pakistan to 23 for 2 in the PowerPlay. The first wicket was Sophie Molineux and Muneeba got herself caught at mid-wicket. Only a ball later Sadaf Shamas fell as Alyssa Healy took yet another brilliant catch, Megan Schutt keeping.
Pakistan faced a stiff test through its batting side as it was on the 49th ball that it finally saw its first boundary, which was hit by Nida Dar. The end that had come by then was of two more wickets that fell on the hands of Sutherland and Wareham. After a short stint, the innings of Dar came to an end when she was stumped by Wareham while she tried to hit a slog sweep aggressively.
Gardner Keeps Her Dominance
Finally, Gardner left her mark in the 17th over, in which she took her first wicket as Iram Javed was caught at deep mid-wicket. Then, in the final over, she stumped Tuba Hassan off her first delivery and then had Syeda Aroob and Nashra Sandhu as the match went into the finishing stages. Aliya Riaz, who found her way to some 26 runs, was also not spared from Australia’s bowling lineup.
Australia’s Injury Concerns!
Although Australia dominated the game, a few injury blows marred the contest. Tayla Vlaeminck was playing her second T20 World Cup after more than a year when her shoulder was dislocated following a fielding mishap. Also, skipper Alyssa Healy retired hurt with a suspected calf spasm just in time when the match would end, leaving the audience anxious to know whether Alyssa Healy would be doing alright.
Complete Performance
Australia completed the target within 15 overs and sealed a dominating victory with 7 wickets remaining in the bag. Apart from the damage to their bodies, Australia’s presentation was marked by brutal brilliance.
They equalized the boundary count of Pakistan by the third over of their innings as Beth Mooney cracked three fours off one over. Healy took control even after Mooney’s dismissal, scoring 37 off 23 balls before her premature exit.
Brief scores: Pakistan 82 in 19.5 overs (Aliya Riaz 26; Ashleigh Gardner 4-21, Georgia Wareham 2-16, Annabel Sutherland 2-15) lost to Australia 83/1 in 11 overs (Alyssa Healy 37*) by nine wickets.
