That's it from all of us here. This is me, Akshay Bhide, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Ninaad Dixit and Ayan Chatterjee and our scorer Ashok. Tata. Bye Bye
Meg Lanning | Winning Captain: "It was a much better performance. We were energetic in the field. Pakistan poised a different threat today with the spin options but I guess we did well. They batted extremely well and made it difficult for us to take those wickets. We have played here a lot in the last two years, this venue is an amazing place to play cricket. Everyone's in a really good form. The top four was a concern but we all feel in a very good nick and chipped in today. Looking ahead to the next game against New Zealand."
Bismah Maroof | Losing Captain: "I think while batting we lost too many wickets in the start. I and Alia tried hard and put in a partnership but failed to pick wickets while bowling. Also, we were a bit sloppy in the field and would have helped us defend the total. We talked in the meeting that someone from the top-order needs to bat throughout the innings. It was very special for me to perform with my daughter on the ground. We need to make sure that we don't repeat our mistakes when we face South Africa in our next game."
Alyssa Healy | Player of the Match: "Yes, it was a great performance. Didn't feel good initially. Nice to spend some time in the middle and get the two points. The pitches have been outstanding. This was the third game on this pitch, so we knew it was going to grip. But the pitches have been doing well with so much traffic around, so credit to the groundsmen for their awesome efforts. I am fine, just getting a tad older with age. We have a few days' breaks before we head to Wellington for our next game. The girls will have a bit of golf and will be match ready going into Wellington. Happy with the win and will look forward to carrying the momentum forward in this tournament. "
Time for the post-match presentation.
Akshay: A comprehensive victory from the Australian Women as they
chase down 191 in the 35th over to win the game by seven wickets.
Pakistan Women didn’t stand any chance in the game and have suffered another
loss in the competition. This is Australia’s 13th consecutive win
over Pakistan in ODIs and they will be very happy with their effort tonight. Defending 190 was always going to be a tough task for the
women in green. The Aussie openers in Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes started
on a positive note as they pounced on anything loose. They put a 50-run stand
in no time. Nashra Sandhu dismissed Haynes on 34 but there was no stopping
Healy as she kept playing her strokes from the other end. Meg Lanning joined
Healy and stitched a brilliant partnership. Healy brought up her fifty as Pakistan Women failed to
create further inroads. They did send back Lanning for 35 and Healy departed on a well-made 72 but Perry and Mooney joined hands and ensured there weren’t any
more hiccups in the chase. They got across the line in the 35th over
to complete a dominant win over Pakistan. Earlier in the day, Australian skipper Lanning won the toss
and opted to bowl first. The decision paid off as they removed both the openers
early in the innings. Skipper Bismah Maroof walked out to bat but they lost two
more wickets as they were reeling at 44/4. Aliya Riaz joined her skipper and
both started the recovery work. Both Maroof and Riaz put up a solid fifth-wicket stand as
they brought up their respective fifties. They tried hard but couldn’t
accelerate as the Australian bowlers bowled brilliantly and restricted them to
190 in their 50 overs. Maroof remained unbeaten on 78. The total wasn’t big
enough as the Southern Stars chased it down with ease to grab their second win
of the World Cup.
34.4 N Dar to B Mooney
4 That's the end of the game. Beth Mooney finishes things off in style. Fuller and wide of off-stump, Mooney makes room and drives it in the gap through the covers for a boundary to finish things off and win the game for Australia. They win this by 7 wickets with 15.2 overs to spare. A comprehensive win for Meg Lanning and his girls.
34.3 N Dar to B Mooney
0 Short and wide, Mooney hits it straight to covers.
34.2 N Dar to B Mooney
0 Fuller length yorker, Mooney comes down the wicket and hits it back to the bowler.
34.1 N Dar to B Mooney
0 Nida Dar is back into the attack. Tosses it up, Moonet defends in front of him.
OVER 34
Australia Women
189/3
Ellyse Perry
26(33)
Beth Mooney
19(22)
Omaima Sohail
2-39(8.0)
33.6 O Sohail to E Perry
0 Short of a length, too close to cut as Perry dabs it to point to end the over. 6 runs of the over.
33.5 O Sohail to B Mooney
1 Bowls it fuller on the pads, Mooney flicks it to short square leg for a single.
33.4 O Sohail to B Mooney
0 Fuller length on the pads, Mooney hits it straight to midwicket.
33.3 O Sohail to B Mooney
0 Tosses it up, Mooney drives it straight to mid-off.
33.2 O Sohail to B Mooney
4 FOUR! Tosses it up, Mooney uses her feet to come down the wicket and loft it over midwicket for a glorious boundary. Just 3 runs required now.
33.1 O Sohail to E Perry
1 Short of a length, Perry goes on the back foot to cut it to covers for a single.