Star batter Beth Mooney pulled off a spectacular rescue act in Colombo on Wednesday, smashing a superb hundred to help Australia bounce back from a major collapse and seal a massive 107-run win over Pakistan in their ICC World Cup clash.
After being asked to bat first, things went downhill quickly for the defending champions. Australia found themselves in big trouble at 76 for 7 in just the 22nd over, with Pakistan’s spinners, especially Nashra Sandhu who picked up 3 for 37, completely dominating the top order.
But Beth Mooney had other plans.
Beth Mooney and King Turn the Game Around
At one point, it seemed like Australia wouldn’t even make it to 150. But Beth Mooney stayed calm and played one of the most important knocks of her career. She scored a fantastic 109 off 114 balls, her fifth ODI century and her very first in a World Cup.
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She found a gritty partner in tailender Alana King, and together they added a record 106-run stand for the ninth wicket. King remained unbeaten on 51 off 49 balls, helping Australia post a fighting total of 221 for 9.
Pakistan Struggle to Get Going
In reply, Pakistan had a nightmare start. Their chase of 222 never really got off the ground, as they crumbled to 114 all out in just 36.3 overs. Australia’s bowlers were on fire, with Kim Garth leading the way with 3 for 14, and solid support from Annabel Sutherland (2 for 15) and Megan Schutt (2 for 25).
This win marked Australia’s second victory in the tournament. They had already beaten New Zealand in their opening game, while their second match against Sri Lanka was washed out due to rain.
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For Pakistan, it was another tough outing. This loss was their third in a row, following defeats to India and Bangladesh.
Early Collapse Crushes Pakistan’s Hopes
Pakistan’s chase started on the worst possible note, with five wickets falling for just 31 runs by the ninth over. Garth struck first, removing opener Sadaf Shamas for 5 in the third over. From that moment on, the wickets just kept tumbling.
Sidra Amin offered some resistance with a top score of 35, and captain Fatima Sana managed 11, but there wasn’t much support elsewhere. Only four Pakistan batters made it to double digits, and once Sidra fell in the 22nd over, the result was pretty much sealed.
Mooney Shines After Australia’s Top-Order Collapse
Earlier in the day, Australia were reeling when Beth Mooney walked out to bat at 30 for 2. Wickets were falling all around her, but she kept her focus and slowly rebuilt the innings with poise and determination.
She hit 11 boundaries during her knock, and remarkably, the second-highest scorer for Australia was No. 10 batter Alana King. Together, they helped the team recover from 83 for 7 at the halfway stage to a competitive 221 by the end of the innings.
Their 106-run stand is now the highest for the ninth wicket or lower in women’s ODIs, breaking the previous record of 76 set by Ashleigh Gardner and Kim Garth against South Africa in 2024.
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Pakistan’s Spinners Shine Early On
On a slow, turning pitch, some of Australia’s batters struggled with their shot selection and lacked patience. Credit goes to Pakistan’s spinners, who bowled well and fielded brilliantly, taking sharp catches and keeping the pressure on.
The trouble began early when Alyssa Healy was dismissed in the seventh over, and Phoebe Litchfield followed her just three balls later with the score still on 30.
Things got worse when Sandhu removed two key players – Ellyse Perry for 5 and Annabel Sutherland for 1. Gardner, fresh off a century in the last match, misjudged a shot and was caught at midwicket. With the scoreboard reading 60 for 5 in the 16th over, Australia had lost three wickets for just five runs.
Then came another mini-collapse, with Tahlia McGrath and Georgia Wareham both falling within five balls for just one more run.
Australia Find a Way
It was shaping up to be a disaster, but thanks to Mooney’s class and King’s grit, Australia turned it all around. Their fightback not only saved the innings but also set up a dominant win that keeps the Aussies in a strong position in the tournament.
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