Beth Mooney emerged as the savior for Australia, crafting a brilliant 109 from 114 balls, her maiden century in a Women’s World Cup. The left-hander displayed controlled aggression, striking 11 boundaries and keeping her side afloat. Alana King (51*), coming in at number 10, complemented Mooney brilliantly, hitting three fours and three sixes. Together, they stitched a record 109-run stand for the ninth wicket—the highest-ever for that position in Women’s ODI history—propelling Australia to 221/9.
Pakistan’s chase faltered immediately against Australia’s pace battery. Kim Garth (3/14) removed Sadaf Shamas early, while Megan Schutt (2/25) and Annabel Sutherland (2/15) added to the carnage. Despite a gritty 35 from Sidra Amin, the batting collapse was too severe, with Pakistan losing five wickets for just 31 runs by the ninth over. The innings petered out at 114 in 36.3 overs.
Earlier, Pakistan had shown promise with wickets from Nashra Sandhu, Rameen Shamim, and captain Fatima Sana, putting Australia under pressure. However, Mooney and King’s record partnership turned the game decisively.
Mooney was rightly adjudged Player of the Match for her match-winning century, while King’s power-hitting highlighted Australia’s lower-order depth. The win gave Australia five points from three games, moving them to the top of the points table, while Pakistan remained at the bottom after three successive losses. The result reinforced Australia’s dominance and showcased their ability to recover from precarious positions, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Brief Scores: Australia Women 221/9 (Beth Mooney 109, Alana King 51*; Nashra Sandhu 3/37) defeated Pakistan Women 114 (Sidra Amin 35, Rameen Shamim 15; Kim Garth 3/14).