Australia have raced to the top of the Women’s World Cup standings with a swift seven-wicket win over Pakistan. Alyssa Healy’s 72 helped Australia chase down Pakistan’s 190-6 with 92 balls to spare.
Pakistan improved from their first-up defeat of India and rallied from 44-4 thanks to a 99-run stand from Aliya Riaz and Bismah Maroof. With her seven-month-old daughter Fatima in the stands, Maroof struck an unbeaten 78, repelling the spin-heavy Australian attack.
However, Australia’s top order made short work of the below-par total with Healy making her best World Cup score. The tournament favourites were always likely to triumph against the World Cup’s lowest-ranked side and made sure of it with a pro-fessional display at Tauranga’s Bay Oval.
Australia made two changes from their first-up win over England on Sunday, dropping Darcie Brown and resting Tahlia McGrath, who had a sore heel. Into the side came Nicola Carey, making her World Cup debut, and spinner Amanda-Jade Wel-lington who was favoured on the turning wicket.
But it was Australia’s seam attack that did the early damage. Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry re-moved openers Sidhra Amin and Nahida Khan, both caught in the slips cordon to leave Pakistan reeling at 2-11.
National team bolter Alana King, fresh from her star turn against England, then produced another stunner to dismiss Omaima Sohail. The leg-spinner, Australia’s best bowler with 2-24, squeezed a deliv-ery through Sohail’s bat and pad which struck the top of the middle stump.
Wellington then took her first international wicket in four years, with Lanning called into action in the slips again to pouch a heavy outside edge. Riaz and skipper Maroof then frustrated Australia for 30 overs, tallying Pakistan’s best Women’s World Cup partnership. Carey ended their stand in the 45th over, trapping Riaz in front.
In reply, Australia’s openers enjoyed lives when they were dropped in the field before holing out. Healy was dropped at mid-wicket off Anam Amin’s spin on eight, while in the next over Nida Dar put down a simple chance to snare early-innings aggres-sor Rachael Haynes off her own bowling.
Haynes fell shortly after for 34 off 34 balls, while Healy cashed in before finding a fielder at long-on. Lanning started slowly scoring three off 20 but improved to 35 off 37, before chopping on a Sohail delivery.
Beth Mooney (23 not out off 26) and Ellyse Perry (26 not out off 33) then finished off Pakistan, Mooney sealing victory with a superb cover drive.
Australia’s next assignment is against hosts New Zealand in Wellington on Sunday, while Pakistan will stay in Tauranga as they hunt a first win of the tournament against South Africa on Friday.
Scores in brief: Pakistan 190/6 in 50.0 overs (Bismah Maroof 78 not out, Aliya Riaz 53; Alana King 2/24, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/25).—APP
