Gardner spins Australia to victory over Pakistan in women’s T20 World Cup

Staff Report

LAHORE: Australia defeated Pakistan by nine wickets in the 14th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Friday evening. Pakistan copped their second defeat while Australia bagged their third win of the tournament. Australia chased down the 83-run target in 11 overs as skipper Alyssa Healy top-scored with a 23-ball 37 before retiring hurt in the 10th over of the innings. Her 36-run opening partnership with Beth Mooney was cut short by Sadia Iqbal in the fifth over when Mooney departed for a run-a-ball 15 with the help of three boundaries. Ellyse Perry, who hit the winning run for Australia, remained unbeaten for 22 off 23 balls hitting two fours along with Ashleigh Gardner (7 not out, 5b, 1×4). Out of the seven bowlers used by Pakistan, only Sadia remained successful while Syeda Aroob Shah was denied Healy’s wicket as Nashra Sundhu dropped her in the eighth over.

Earlier, after Australia won the toss and opted to field, Gardner tied down the Pakistan batters with a four-wicket haul while she was backed up by tidy spells from Annabel Sutherland (2-15) and Georgia Wareham (2-16). A quiet powerplay saw Pakistan amass 23 runs for the loss of two wickets before they were reduced to 39-5 in 9.4 overs. Aliya Riaz, who top-scored with 26 off 32 hitting three fours, stitched a 19-run sixth-wicket partnership with Iram Javed and a 13-ball 18-run seventh-wicket stand with Tuba Hassan to take Pakistan to 82 in 19.5 overs. Megan Schutt picked up one wicket in her three-over spell to surpass Nida Dar’s tally of 143 T20I wickets and became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is. Schutt snaffled her 144th T20I wicket when she dismissed Sadaf Shamas in the fifth over. Pakistan will now face New Zealand in their last group game on October 14 at the DICS with the first ball to be bowled at 1900 PKT.

Brief scores:

Australia beat Pakistan by nine wickets

Pakistan 82 all out, 19.5 overs (Aliya Riaz 26, Sidra Amin 12, Iram Javed 12; Ashleigh Gardner 4-21, Annabel Sutherland 2-15, Georgia Wareham 2-16) vs Australia 83-1, 11 overs (Alyssa Healy 37 retired hurt, Ellyse Perry 22 not out; Sadia Iqbal 1-17)

Player of the match – Ashleigh Gardner (Australia).