Australia Women clinched a commanding six-wicket win over England Women in their Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 clash at Holkar Stadium, Indore. England posted a competitive total of 244 for 9, powered by Tammy Beaumont’s steady 78, but Australia’s response was led by a brilliant partnership between Ashleigh Gardner, who scored a blazing unbeaten 104, and Annabel Sutherland, who contributed a strong 98 not out.
England, after winning the toss, chose to bat first and seemed well placed with an encouraging start from Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, combining for an opening stand of 55. Beaumont’s composed 78 looked to give England a solid platform, but after Heather Knight’s early dismissal, the middle order faltered under pressure from Australian spinners and pacer Annabel Sutherland who claimed three wickets. Despite a late resurgence with a 61-run partnership between Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean, England fell short of posting a match-winning total.
Australia’s bowling was threaded with control and discipline, with Sutherland’s 3/60 and Gardner’s 2/39 coming at vital moments to break partnerships and keep England’s scoring in check. The spin attack exploited the pitch conditions beautifully, creating pressure and forcing England’s batters into mistakes. Alana King also chipped in with a crucial wicket, adding to the collective effort to restrict England to a below-par 244.
The chase began dramatically for Australia with early wickets falling thanks to the incisive bowling from England’s Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith, reducing the champions to 24 for 3 inside the opening six overs. This brought the spotlight onto Gardner and Sutherland, who took their time to settle before dominating the innings. Their contrasting styles—Gardner’s aggressive stroke-play and Sutherland’s controlled finesse—blended perfectly to rebuild and then dominate the chase.
Their unbeaten 180-run partnership was highlighted by powerful boundaries, well-timed shots, and calm confidence under pressure. Sutherland’s aggressive slog-sweeps and Gardner’s stylish pulls reached the boundary regularly, gradually dissipating England’s hopes. Their unbroken stand not only steadied the innings but effectively turned the game in Australia’s favor, with Gardner reaching her century off just 69 balls, underscoring her dominance.
This result reinforces Australia’s position at the top of the group standings, maintaining their unbeaten record, while England have some reflection to do heading into the semis. The match was a classic showcase of quality batting, smart bowling, and fierce competition at this prestigious tournament, setting high expectations for the road to the title ahead.
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