The defending world champions registered their fourth straight win in the ICC Women’s World Cup as they trounced a ragtag Pakistan outfit by 159 runs. Batting first, Australia posted a target of 291 on the board, in reply to which the opponents could muster only 131 runs.
Pakistan put no semblance of fight whatsoever as they largely lagged behind in all three departments and remain winless in the contest thus far. With this 4th consecutive loss, the chances to make it to the knockout stage are almost negligible for the Sana Mir led side.
Let's take a look at 5 points from the match that got the viewers talking.
#1 Pakistan strike early but fail to capitalise
While taking the field, one thing on the top of Pakistani women’s team agendas would have been picking up early wickets against an Australian side sans Meg Lanning. Asmavia Iqbal opened the bowling with Diana Baig, who had got the better of Smriti Madhana in the match against India.
Iqbal was the first to give his side a breakthrough as she got Beth Mooney caught behind on just the third delivery of the innings. She followed it up with a couple more tidy overs along with Baig, who then bagged the second Australian wicket.
A short delivery, which Nicole Bolton failed to pick and was adjudged leg before after the ball struck her pad. Pakistan were suddenly on top!
However, Mir’s decision to give the two bowlers an extended spell backfired as both were sent for plenty in their last and second last overs. This turned the match in Australia’s favour and they didn’t let the situation get out of their hands after that.
#2 Australian middle order proves its mettle
After losing both the openers in a span of a little over five overs and seven runs, Australia desperately needed their middle order to step up. And they did it in some style.
Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry gradually piled up 53 runs for the third wicket before the former fell to Sana Mir’s off-break bowling. Perry then joined hands with Elyse Villani, who brutally smashed Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the park.
The pair added 83 runs in 67 deliveries, with Villani scoring 59-off-40. After them, Healy, coming in at number seven played another whirlwind innings. This helped Australia power their score to a massive 290 runs, which was far from the reach of Pakistani batswomen.
#3 Ellyse Perry’s all-round brilliance
Since making her debut for Australia at a tender age of 16, Perry has been a vital cog to Australia's dominance in international cricket. She scored a match winning 90-balls 71 in the previous game against the Kiwis and replicated the performance against Pakistan with a 97 ball 66.
She was the fulcrum around which the Australian middle order revolved. She kept her head down and guarded her wicket when the Asian team was dominating early on and then accelerated later on. Perry stepped up exactly when her teammates were looking for someone to guide them through in Meg Lanning’s absence.
If batting for over 30 overs was not enough, she returned with the ball and conceded 24 runs in her quote of 10 overs to put pressure on the opponents.
#4 Alyssa Healy’s late surge
Healy came in to bat in the 37th over of her innings, with Australia’s score reading 175-5. Having Perry on the other side helped her cause as she was allowed the time to settle in before launching herself.
Her start to the innings was not swift by any stretch of imagination if you read what her numbers read at the end of the innings, 40-ball-63. She was batting on 27 from 25 in the 47th over, after which she hit six boundaries and a six to propel Australia’s score to 290.
#5 Pakistan almost out of the tournament
Having lost three consecutive games in the tourney, not many expectations rested on Pakistan when they faced a domineering Australian side in their fourth game.
In their tournament opener against South Africa, Pakistan lost by 3 wickets, followed by rather humiliating losses against England and India when they lost by 107 and 95 runs respectively.
Throughout their journey so far, they've dropped multiple catches and grassed as many opportunities which has been their biggest enemy.
With their fourth straight debacle, it is now almost impossible for them to make it to the knockout round. But much like their male counterpart, the women can spring up a surprise on their day with an out of skin performance. But that will be for pride and not for graduation to the knockout stage.
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