Mooney Century Completes Incredible Australian Comeback
Beth Mooney produced a truly remarkable individual performance, scoring a maiden World Cup century to rescue Australia from a catastrophic collapse and lead them to a 107-run victory over Pakistan. The Australian side was in disarray at 76 for 7, staring down the barrel of a historic upset before Mooney's masterful innings completely transformed the match. Her efforts, combined with a record-breaking supporting role from Alana King, ensured Australia maintained its unbeaten record and its position at the top of the tournament standings.
For a significant portion of the contest, Pakistan had executed their game plan to near perfection. After captain Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to bowl on a slow Colombo pitch, her spinners immediately validated the decision. The duo of Nashra Sandhu and Rameen Shamim tore through the formidable Australian top and middle order with precision and skill. Sandhu was particularly effective, claiming key wickets including a sharp stumping of Ellyse Perry, which saw her become Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history. When Georgia Wareham fell as the seventh wicket, Australia was facing one of its worst-ever positions in a World Cup match, and Pakistan's hopes for a monumental victory were justifiably high.
The Turning Point a Partnership for the Ages
However, what followed was a batting display of immense composure and skill from Beth Mooney. Demonstrating patience and a superb ability to play the ball late, she weathered the storm created by Pakistan's spinners. She found a more-than-capable partner in Alana King, who came to the crease at number ten. Together, they meticulously rebuilt the innings, frustrating the Pakistani attack which had been so dominant. Their ninth-wicket partnership added a colossal 106 runs, completely shifting the momentum of the game.
Mooney expertly anchored the stand, punishing loose deliveries and rotating the strike effectively to bring up a magnificent century under immense pressure. King, for her part, played a vital supporting role before unleashing her own attack late in the innings, finishing on 51 not out. Her score became the highest ever by a player batting at number 10 or lower in the history of women's ODIs. The late-innings surge, which saw Australia plunder 81 runs from the final 10 overs, pushed their total to a highly competitive 221 for 9, a figure that seemed impossible just a few hours earlier.
Pakistan's Batting Falters Under Pressure
The psychological blow of letting a commanding position slip seemed to weigh heavily on Pakistan during their run chase. Their batting lineup was unable to build any meaningful partnerships in the face of a disciplined Australian bowling attack. The seam and swing generated by Megan Schutt and Kim Garth proved too much for the top order to handle. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and at 31 for 5, any realistic chance of a successful chase had evaporated.
Sidra Amin offered some resistance with a team-high score of 35, but she found little support from her teammates. The Australian bowlers never relinquished control, with Garth finishing with three wickets while Annabel Sutherland and Schutt picked up two apiece. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for just 114 in the 37th over, succumbing to a heavy defeat. The result leaves them winless at the bottom of the table, left to contemplate what could have been after failing to capitalize on a golden opportunity.
Tags: ICC Women's World Cup
