In a commanding display of cricketing prowess, Australia Women crushed New Zealand Women by 60 runs in their Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This victory solidifies Australia’s position as a formidable contender for their seventh T20 World Cup title.
SOURCE : ZE
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Australia set a challenging target of 148 runs for 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by Beth Mooney, who top-scored with a composed 40 runs off 32 balls, including two boundaries. Alyssa Healy provided a brisk start with a 20-ball 26, featuring four boundaries, before falling to a slower delivery from Rosemary Mair
Source:- bbc news
Ellyse Perry, dropped early in her innings, capitalized on the opportunity to score a vital 30 runs off 24 balls, forming a crucial partnership with Mooney. Despite a middle-order wobble, where Amelia Kerr’s impressive spell of 4 wickets for 26 runs caused significant damage, Australia managed to post a competitive total.
Chasing 149, New Zealand’s innings never gained momentum. Megan Schutt’s exceptional bowling performance dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup. Schutt’s figures of 3 wickets for just 3 runs in 3.2 overs earned her the Player of the Match award. Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland also contributed significantly with the ball, taking 2 and 3 wickets respectively.
New Zealand’s top order struggled against the disciplined Australian attack. Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr were the only batters to show some resistance, scoring 20 and 29 runs respectively. However, once Kerr was dismissed, the rest of the batting lineup collapsed, with New Zealand being bowled out for a mere 88 runs in 19.2 overs.
Beth Mooney: Her steady innings of 40 runs laid the foundation for Australia’s total.
Megan Schutt: Her devastating spell of 3/3 in 3.2 overs was instrumental in Australia’s victory.
Amelia Kerr: Despite New Zealand’s loss, her all-round performance with 4 wickets and 29 runs was noteworthy
Australia’s captain, Alyssa Healy, praised her team’s performance, particularly the bowlers. “We could have been smarter with the bat at the end, but we came out really well with the ball and I’m really happy with that,” Healy said. She highlighted Schutt’s exceptional bowling and the overall team effort that led to their comprehensive win.
New Zealand’s captain, Sophie Devine, acknowledged the team’s shortcomings. “We needed to have a good start and we let the run rate creep up too much,” Devine remarked. She emphasized the need for improvement in their upcoming matches to stay in contention for the semi-finals.
With this victory, Australia tops Group A, maintaining their unbeaten run in the tournament. They are set to face Pakistan in their next match in Dubai on Sunday. New Zealand, now third in the group, will look to bounce back against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday.
Australia’s dominant performance against New Zealand underscores their status as favorites in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Their blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talents continues to set high standards in women’s cricket. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling encounters and standout performances from these cricketing powerhouses.
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