Australia survive a top-order wobble to register a crucial win
Beth Mooney’s first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup century came at a pivotal moment for Australia, rescuing the defending champions from a perilous position and helping them to a 107-run victory over Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Australia slid to 76/7 in the 22nd over, a collapse triggered by disciplined pace bowling and clinical fielding from Pakistan. Mooney, batting at No. 4, steadied the ship with patient shot selection and a relentless focus on rotating the strike. She found a valuable ally in Alana King, who anchored an important late rescue while the middle order faltered.
Mooney’s World Cup 100 seals the result
Mooney reached her century with a single off 110 balls, the first women’s ODI World Cup hundred of her career. By then, King had begun to open up, and the two built a partnership that transformed an anxious chase into a commanding total. King finished with 51 off 49 balls, including three sixes, and Australia declared or finished on 221/9 in their 50 overs, setting Pakistan a target of 222.
The stand between Mooney and King stretched to over 100, turning what looked like a crisis into a platform for Australia’s big finish. Mooney’s measured approach allowed Australia to recover from the early setback while King’s aggression supplied the late momentum that pushed the total past the 200-mark.
Bowling pressure seals the win
Australia’s bowlers replied in kind, with pace and then spin applying the decisive pressure. Megan Schutt was brought back to replace Sophie Molineux, and the quicks did the early damage as Pakistan slipped to 31/5 inside the ninth over, with Natalia Pervaiz and Eyman Fatima dismissed cheaply. Sadaf Shamas was also removed, courtesy of Alyssa Healy’s sharp glovework on review, and the wickets kept coming as Australia tightened the screws.
Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Wareham later joined the party, providing breakthrough overs that left Pakistan 86/8. The innings finally folded as spinners Kim Garth, Tahlia McGrath, and Alana King chipped in with crucial wickets, with Sutherland accounting for the last to seal Australia’s win.
Key performances and what it means for WWC 2025
Even as Mooney’s heroics stole the spotlight, Australia’s depth shone through. King’s all-round contribution—50+ in the chase and a decisive bowling spell—underscored the balance across the side. The win keeps Australia on track in the group stage as they chase more silverware on home soil for World Cup glory, while Pakistan’s pace-led bowling fired up their campaign and offered hope of bouncing back in subsequent matches.
Match insights
– Mooney’s 109 off 114 balls marked a crucial turn in Australia’s innings after the early slump.
– King’s 51 from 49 balls made her the first woman in ODIs to hit a fifty while batting at 10 or lower, highlighting Australia’s depth.
– Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Nashra Sandhu and Rameen Shamim, found good lines, but the defending champions rode out the pressure with calm, composed batting and disciplined bowling in the middle and death overs.
What’s next
Australia will look to build on this performance as they progress through the WWC 2025 pool phase, aiming to convert strong starts into consistent big scores and tight bowling units. For Pakistan, the challenge remains to translate early breakthroughs into a win, learning from the required consistency in both departments as the tournament advances.
