Australia, led by skipper Alyssa Healy, finally had some opportunity to have some cricketing action unfold against Pakistan, led by skipper Fatima Sana, in match 9 of the Women’s World Cup 2025. The Alyssa Healy-led side missed out on some game time in their previous fixture against Sri Lanka on 4th October in Colombo.
Pakistan included the 20-year-old youngster Eyman Fatima in the top order, replacing Aliya Riaz. Australia made a couple of changes, purely based on the conditions on offer in Colombo. Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham replaced left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, and the experienced Megan Schutt replaced Darcie Brown in the starting 11.
Beth Mooney, finds able support in Alana King, to lift Australia to 221/9
Openers Phoebe Litchfield and skipper Alyssa Healy got their side off to a confident start with a 30-run opening partnership, after skipper Fatima Sana won the toss and inserted them to bat first. Sadia Iqbal got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Alyssa Healy (20 off 23 balls), in the 7th over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for Pakistan.
A horrific collapse followed as the clinical Pakistani spin trio of Nashra Sandhu (10-0-37-3), Rameen Shamim (10-1-29-2), and Sadia Iqbal (10-2-32-1) left the Australian batters clueless, forcing them to play on the front foot. They had the Aussies on the mat, at 76/7 in the 22nd over of the innings, entertaining the thoughts of causing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history so far.
Kim Garth joined Beth Mooney, and Garth showed remarkable determination to stick out there and grind each run that’s on offer alongside Beth Mooney and the duo took them past the 110-run mark, with a much-needed 39-run partnership for the 8th wicket. Diana Baig managed to drag Kim Garth (11 off 47 balls) out of her crease, and the wicket-keeper batter, Sidra Nawaz, who had a wonderful day behind the stumps, whipped the bails off quickly to find her short of the crease to provide the crucial 8th breakthrough for Pakistan.
Alana King joined Beth Mooney at the crease, and the leg-spinner backed herself as a batter and showed impressive character to forge a spirited fightback and take the game deep. Beth Mooney continued with her resilient knock, while also building a solid total along the way. The duo not only bailed Australia out of troubled waters but also formed a record 9th wicket stand of 106 runs for the 9th wicket.
The partnership took them to a solid total of 221/9, surviving their full quota of 50 overs. Beth Mooney (109 off 114 balls) departed on the final ball of the innings. At one stage, Australia were in danger of not completing their quota of overs, when they lost their next six wickets for just 46 runs, after the departure of their skipper Alyssa Healy in the 7th over of the innings.
Alana King (51* off 49 balls), after curbing her natural instincts throughout the earlier stages of her innings, unleashed herself with a fearless, clear mindset towards the back end of the innings. She smacked a few over the ropes and registered her maiden half-century in the ODI format. Her knock included three boundaries and three maximums. Skipper Fatima Sana (10-1-49-2) played her part with the ball for Pakistan.
Pacers trigger Pakistan’s batting unit to collapse in massive 107-run win
Lower-order heroics gave the bowling unit the spring in their steps. The Pakistani run chase followed a similar script, but this time it was the Australian pacers doing all the damage, reducing Pakistan to 49/6 in the 13th over of the run chase. Rameen Shamim joined Sidra Amin at the crease, following the departure of their skipper Fatima Sana (11 off 12 balls).
The duo stitched a much-needed 29-run partnership for the 7th wicket, reviving some hopes of a fightback. However, Ashleigh Gardner landed a massive blow by sending their best batters, Sidra Amin (35 off 52 balls), who was once again putting up a solid performance, back to the pavilion. With her departure, the hopes of Pakistan, chasing down the total, diminished significantly.
Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 114 in the 37th over of the innings. A spirited 25-run partnership for the 9th wicket between Nashra Sandhu (11 off 41 balls) and Rameen Shamim (15 off 64 balls) wasn’t enough for them to get closer to the total, as they fell 107 runs short of the target. Kim Garth (6-0-14-3), Annabel Sutherland (8.3-1-15-2), Ashleigh Gardner (7-1-17-1), Alana King (6-0-19-1), and Megan Schutt (5-1-25-2) were sensational with the ball for Australia, dismantling the Pakistani batting lineup.
Beth Mooney (109 off 114 balls) was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-defining 5th ODI century, and her maiden century in an ODI World Cup. She, alongside the lower order, played a massive role in setting up this dominant win, which has helped them surge to the top of the table.
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