Published: Jul 05, 2017, 09:49 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 05, 2017, 10:17 PM (IST)
Match No. 15 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, saw defending champions Australia take on a under performing Pakistan side. Australia demonstrated their bench strength with as many 2 main players sitting out – Meg Lanning and Megan Scutt. Racheal Haynes won the toss and rightly elected to bat first. It as a combined effort by Ellyse Perry, Elyse Villani and Alyssa Healy  that saw Australia reach 209 for 8. In reply, Pakistan were completely overpowered and bruised by Kristen Beams and Elyse, both of whom picked 3 wickets each. Both were well aided by Sarah Aley and Jess Jonassen. For Pakistan, it was only skipper Sana Mir who stood in the middle like alone warrior making 45 runs in their 159 run defeat.
Pakistan was never in the game from the start losing their openers Nahida Khan and Ayesha Zafar cheaply. Nahida fell for a 5-ball duck to Jess Jonassen, while Ayesha gave a simple caught behind off Sarah Aley for 8. Marina Iqbal did stay in middle for 33 balls could not do much departing for 9. She became Kristen Beams first wicket. After a dull few overs Kristen struck again snapping up Nain Abidi for a 29-ball 7.
Both Iram Javed and Asmavia Iqbal added 23 runs for the fifth wicket before the former fell victim to Ashleigh Gardner for a valiant 21.
Asmavia followed suit, getting cleaned up by Kristen for 10. Skipper Sana Mir along with Sidra Nawaz resisted a collapse for 5 overs only. Sidra trying to cut the ball gave a simple catch to Alyssa Healy off Sarah.
It was then Sana and Nashra Sandhu that dead batted everything that Australia offered. The pair lasted for a good 68 balls before Nashra was caught napping against Ashleigh. She hardly got her feet moving to be leg before for a 42-ball 6.
It was only about time that Australia cleaned up Pakistan, taking Sana and Diana Baig in quick succession. Sana was picked up by Ashleigh for 45, while Diana was run out by Kristen for a 1-ball 0.
Earlier in the day, it was Ellyse, Elyse and Alyssa Healy that mustered Australia towards the 290-mark out. Beth Mooney (0) and Nicole Bolton (3) had a rare failure departing in the first 10 overs itself. With no Meg to anchor, stand-in skipper Rachael and Ellyse took upon themselves adding 53 runs for the third wicket. Rachael was picked up by Sana Mir for 28.
Ellyse was joined by Elyse Villani, took charge in their partnership. Ellyse added 66 off 97 balls inclusive of 5 fours. She was picked up by Sadia Yousuf in an attempt to go inside-out. Sadia nabbed Jess Jonnasen in her next over for 2.
It was then that Elyse took charge and knocked over crucial runs for her side. Her innings came to an end on 40-ball 59 after she was cleaned up by Marina Iqbal. Alyssa Healy came out in the middle with clear content. She knocked every bowler out of the park especially taking on Diana Baig and Nashra Sadhu.
Her blitz of 63 runs saw Australia reach a commendable target of 290 runs. Ashleigh Gardner played a small cameo of 22 runs as well.
Brief Score:
Australia Women 290 for 8 in 50 overs (Ellyse Perry 66, Alyssa Healy 63; Sana Mir 3 for 49) beat Pakistan Women 131 all out in 50 overs (Sana Mir 45, Iram Javed 21; Kristen Beams 3 for 23) by 159 runs.
Player of the Match:Â Elyse Villani
