AUS-W vs SL-W, Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights: Follow Scorecard, Match Action And Commentary
Follow the highlights of Australia vs Sri Lanka Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match. Stay tuned for real-time commentary, highlights, and full scorecard of this thrilling encounter between Australia and Sri Lanka women’s cricket team.
AUS-W vs SL-W, Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights:
It was a low-scoring affair in Match 5 of the group-stage fixture between Australia Women and Sri Lanka Women that took place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Sri Lanka’s batting once again failed to live up to their standards as they ended their innings with a meagre target of 94 runs at the end of the first innings. Australia’s Megan Schutt led from the front as he was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/12 in her quota of four overs.
Sophie Molineux was the pick of the bowlers in the slow-bowling department for the Aussies as she finished with figures 2/20 in her quota as well. In addition, Georgia Wareham and Ashleigh Gardner picked up one wicket each as the Sri Lankan batters found it difficult to get going.
In the second innings, Sri Lanka looked to fight back with the bowling unit as they picked up three big wickets in the powerplay. This included the Aussie skipper Alyssa Healy, Wareham and Ellyse Perry.
But opening batter, Beth Mooney showcased her class in difficult conditions for the batters by playing a steady knock where she finished unbeaten on 43 to help her side chase down the target with 5.4 overs to spare.
Playing XIs
Australia: Alyssa Healy (C & WK), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (C), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (WK), Sachini Nisansala, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Inoka Ranaweera
Right then, the six-time T20 World Champions, Australia Women have begun their campaign with a win and it’s back-to-back defeats for Sri Lanka Women which makes it all that difficult for them to get out of the group stage. Anyways, it is a doubleheader day and next up is a clash between Bangladesh Women and England Women at the very same ground. You can simply switch tabs and check our coverage of that game.
Alyssa Healy says she’s happy with the win. Mentions they’ll take some confidence going ahead. Adds it was hard sitting and waiting but watching has helped them get an idea about the conditions. States they are so blessed with depth in the batting line up and hence, anybody can be slotted anywhere.
Chamari Athapaththu says they have been playing well in recent times but are struggling here. Mentions they need to adapt to the conditions and play good cricket. States the batting unit depends a lot on the top order and they need to start scoring runs. Hopes the conditions are better in Dubai.
Megan Schutt, PLAYER OF THE GAME, says there was some assistance from the wicket and she enjoyed it. Adds she would have liked it to be more cleaner and there’s a lot to improve. Mentions it’s a good wicket, did get slower later on and also it is tough to play in this heat but she’s happy they survived this one. Ends by saying she’s happy to play the way she did.
Lanka can be happy with their bowling effort. They made the Aussies work hard for their runs for most parts of the innings. However, they’ll be disappointed with their fielding and their batting majorly. They dropped a few catches, that probably would not have made a difference to the game but one never knows. However, the batting is what has let them down in the tournament so far and that’s one area they really need to improve and quickly.
A thumping win to begin their campaign for the Aussies. To be honest, 94 was never going to be enough. They did lose a few wickets at the start but Gardner and Mooney put up a good stand to take them closer to the target. Gardner fell but Litchfield along with Mooney who was the top scorer, ensured they take their side over the line.
14.2 – That’s it, Australia Women have won! Flighted ball around the pads, Beth Mooney nudges it away into the leg side and gets across for the single. Australia Women win by 6 wickets!
14.1 – FOUR! Had a lot of time to think about where to hit that one. Good length on the stumps, Beth Mooney shimmies down the pitch and plays a checked drive, flat-batting it over mid on for a boundary.
13.6 – Had to adjust there did Phoebe Litchfield. Looped up, full and on middle, Litchfield sets up for the reverse but the ball dips late and she has to just jam it out. Australia Women just 5 runs away from the win now.
Batsman_1 : Phoebe Litchfield 9(9)
Batsman_2 : Beth Mooney 38(36)
Bowler : Kaveesha Dilhari 0/10(2)
Over : 14
Run : 8
Wicket : 0
Score : 89/4
13.5 – This is floated up on the pads, Beth Mooney nudges it around the corner for one more.
13.4 – Dropped short on middle, Litchfield goes on the back foot and miscues the pull in front of square leg for a single.
13.3 – Misfield! Good length on the stumps, Litchfield brings out that favored reverse sweep, hitting it straight to backward point but the fielder lets it through for a couple of runs.
13.2 – FOUR! Gets that one through!
13.1 – Comes from around the wicket, dropping it a bit short outside off, Litchfield hangs back to cut but adjusts and just pats it away in front of point.
12.6 – Tossed up on off, Litchfield advances down the pitch and pushes it down to long off for a run.
Batsman_1 : Phoebe Litchfield 2(4)
Batsman_2 : Beth Mooney 37(35)
Bowler : Inoka Ranaweera 1/20(3)
Over : 13
Run : 3
Wicket : 1
Score : 81/4
12.5 – Flighted up, on a nagging length around off, Litchfield gets her front leg across and just nudges it to the leg side.
12.4 – 1 run.
12.3 – Tossed up on middle, Litchfield clears the front leg plays an uppish on drive down to long on for a single.
12.2 – Slows it right up, on a length and on middle, Phoebe Litchfield presses back to defend.
Phoebe Litchfield is in next.
12.1 – OUT! CAUGHT! A bit unnecessary that from Ash Gardner and she pays the price. The veteran left-arm spinner, Inoka Ranaweera comes back in and drifts this one into the leg stump. Gardner comes down the track, looking to loft it across the line and against the spin. It gets skewed up high in front of point where Harshitha Samarawickrama races forward and dives in to take the catch.
A slight halt in proceedings as Beth Mooney seems to be struggling with the heat. The physio is out with the ice pack which is being applied to the head and the players are taking in some fluids as well to rehydrate themselves.
11.6 – Fuller and on off. Mooney lofts it down to long off for two.
Batsman_1 : Beth Mooney 36(34)
Batsman_2 : Ash Gardner 12(14)
Bowler : Chamari Athapaththu 0/15(2)
Over : 12
Run : 10
Wicket : 0
Score : 78/3
11.5 – Around off. Defended.
11.4 – Four!
11.3 – 1 run.
11.2 – 1 run.
11.1 – This lands safe! Tossed up on middle. Mooney steps out and looks to go big again. It goes off the top edge but lands safe in the deep mid-wicket region. Two taken.
10.6 – A single to end! On middle. This is hit down to long on for one.
Batsman_1 : Beth Mooney 27(29)
Batsman_2 : Ash Gardner 11(13)
Bowler : Udeshika Prabodani 1/19(3)
Over : 11
Run : 6
Wicket : 0
Score : 68/3
10.3 – Mooney steps out but does not get to the pitch of it. She pushes it back to the bowler.
10.2 – Drags her length back and angles it into the pads. It is worked through mid-wicket for one.
10.1 – FOUR! That’s trademark Gardner. She loves going down the ground. Fuller and on off. This is lofted over mid off and it goes for a boundary. 28 more needed.
10.4 – No run.
10.5 – No run.
Drinks break! A bit of an up-and-down chase so far and Sri Lanka Women have bowled pretty well for the most part of it. Australia Women haven’t looked in control with the bat, losing three wickets inside the Powerplay but Beth Mooney seems to be playing a steady knock and is taking them close to the finish line here. With just 32 runs needed and a lot of firepower still to come, the Aussies should get over the line here.
9.6 – 1 run.
9.5 – 1 run.
9.4 – 1 run.
9.3 – On the shorter side. Mooney hits it past cover and takes one.
9.2 – Fuller and on off. This is hit down to long off for one.