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AUS-W Vs SL-W Highlights: Mooney Anchors After Megan Schutt’s Tight Spell As AUS Record Clinical Win

Australia convincingly defeated Sri Lanka in Sharjah [Source: @T20WorldCup/x] Australia convincingly defeated Sri Lanka in Sharjah [Source: @T20WorldCup/x] 

Australia started off its title-defense in style by thrashing Sri Lanka in Sharjah in match number five of the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on October 5.

Here’s the timeline of how AUS-W Vs SL-W panned out in Sharjah:

AUS-W Vs SL-W Highlights: Australia’s New Ball Attack Keeps SL Down To 43-3 In 10 Overs

Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner set the early tone for Australia with the wickets of both Sri Lankan openers, Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu respectively within the first four overs. Sophie Molineux also made instant impact with the ball by trapping Kavisha Dilhari in front as Sri Lanka slipped to 25-3 at one stage.

Having extracted just 23 runs from the opening powerplay, Sri Lanka merely managed to list 43-3 at the halfway stage of the innings courtesy of some tight bowling from Australia.


AUS-W Vs SL-W Highlights: Nilakshika Silva’s 29* Steers SL To 93-7

Sophie Molineux added another wicket to her tally by curtailing the occupancy of well-set Harshitha Samarawickrama (23 off 35). Molineux’s spin mate Georgia Wareham, meanwhile, got rid of Hasini Perera at 65-5 with five overs still remaining in the innings.

In a bid to restore some stability to Sri Lanka’s faltering batting performance, Nilakshika Silva at number five cracked 29 unbeaten runs from 40 balls and shared a vital 24-run partnership with Anushka Sanjeewani (16 off 15). Megan Schutt (3-12) snared back-to-back wickets in the final over as Sri Lanka ended up accruing 93-7 by the completion of their innings.

AUS-W Vs SL-W Highlights: Australia Lose Three In Opening Powerplay

In pursuit of 94, Australia lost captain Alyssa Healy for just four in the first over to Sri Lankan pacer Udeshika Prabodhani. Georgia Wareham at number three also failed to flourish as she was runout by Kavisha Dilhari as Australia slipped to 14-2 in 2.1 overs.

Sugandika Kumari landed the prized scalp of Ellyse Perry as the defending champions lost three of its top four batters inside the opening powerplay itself.

AUS-W Vs SL-W Highlights: Unbeaten Mooney Takes AUS To An Easy Win

Unbeaten opener Beth Mooney joined forces with Ashleigh Gardner at 35-3 following the departure of Ellyse Perry. Both Mooney and Gardner dashed rising Sri Lankan hopes with a counterattacking 43-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Inoka Ranaweera dismissed the latter at 78-4.

Mooney, however, remained defiant in her approach to crack 43* from 38 balls to steer Australia past the finishing line with six wickets and 5.4 overs to spare.