ICC Women's World Cup, Australia beat Bangladesh: Records broken
Australia Women beat Bangladesh by five wickets in match number 25 of the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup at the Basin Reserve. The game was reduced to 43 overs per side owing to heavy rainfall. Batting first, Bangladesh amassed 135/6 with Lata Mondal (33) as their top scorer. In response, Australia chased down 136 riding on a calculated 66* from Beth Mooney. Here's more.
How did the match pan out?
Being put to bat first, Bangladesh were off to a decent start with a 33-run opening stand. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals. Lata Mondal (33 off 63) fought a solo knock to steer their total past 130. Ashleigh Gardner (2/23) and Jess Jonassen (2/13) ripped apart Bangladesh's batting order. Later, Beth Mooney's heroics saved the day for Meg Lanning & Co.
Gardner, Jonassen torment Bangladesh at regular intervals
Spinners Gardner and Jonassen proved to be crucial in Australia's triumph. Gardner dismissed Murshida Khatun (12) to provide the first breakthrough. She then scalped a set-looking Rumana Ahmed to finish with 2/23. Jonassen (2/13) got the better of Sharmin Akhter (24) and skipper Nigar Sultana (7). Amy Sutherland and Megan Schutt picked a wicket each as well.
Salma Khatun bamboozles Australia's top-order
Khatun cracked a three-wicket haul that comprised the wickets of Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes, and Meg Lanning. The off-spinner's fiery show reduced the Aussie scorecard to 26/3 in 9.2 overs. With that, Khatun (8) has now picked the most number of wickets for her side in the ongoing Women's World Cup. To date, she has grabbed 49 wickets in 43 ODIs while averaging 22.59.
Mooney's 66* helps Australia Women win
Mooney's 66* sealed an Aussie win in what was a tricky run chase. She hit five fours and forged a valuable 66-run stand alongside Amy Sutherland for the sixth-wicket stand. She now averages a whopping 112.50 while striking at 90.36 in the tournament underway. It was Mooney's 10th ODI half-century, and she now averages 46.44 across 51 matches with 1,579 runs to her name.
Australia yet to taste defeat in 2022 Women's World Cup
Australia Women haven't lost a game in the ongoing Women's World Cup. They have finished the group stage with 7 wins in as many games and will compete in the 1st semi-final on March 30. Notably, they are on a 10-match win streak in ODIs. Meanwhile, Bangladesh recorded their fifth defeat in the last six games.
